SHAH ALAM: The owner of Restoran Hakim Sdn Bhd has dismissed allegations that he is not a Muslim after authorities ordered Quranic verses in his restaurant to be brought down.
Datuk Hakimsa Abd Karim today said it was unfortunate that such wild accusations had surfaced.
The allegations surfaced following a check conducted by the Home Ministry, Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and the Shah Alam City Council at his restaurant located along Jalan Zirkon E7/E in Section 7 on Tuesday.
"I am sad that I was labelled a non-Muslim after posts on the check were widely shared on various social media platforms. I need to clear my name. I am a Muslim since birth, I have been practicing the religion and I have performed the haj.
"There is no doubt I am a Muslim. It is disheartening to know that these sorts of accusations have been going around just because one of my restaurants was asked to remove a Quranic verse in which the print was unclear," said Hakimsa.
Hakimsa said he was not at the Jalan Zirkon premises during the check which ended in just 5 minutes.
"We respected the directive given by the authorities to remove the Quranic verse. I did not think much of it, but later that day I read so many unfavorable (online) posts alleging my restaurant was not halal and that I am not a Muslim. I subsequently lodged a police report over the matter at the Section 7 station," said Hakimsa, adding that his businesses had not been affected since the incident.
Yesterday, Jais director Datuk Haris Kasim said the order to bring down the Quranic verses was issued by the ministry under Section 17 of the Printing of Quranic Text Act 1986.
He said there was no issue with the halal status of Restoran Hakim as well as other eateries that were checked.