Malaysia ‘Food Police’ called ‘Daesh’ on social media

Daesh is the name given to the so-called ISIS, which means diverted from Islam, and this is the name-calling for the group of officers who arrested three Muslim contract workers who were caught eating during the day in the fasting month.

Malaysia observes strict rules for the month of Ramadan, and eating in public is an offence and individuals found guilty could be charged under Section 22 of the Syariah Criminal Offenses Enactment 2013 for not respecting the Ramadan.

The three construction workers were arrested for allegedly eating inside a lorry while overlooking the ocean at the Mempisang Beach yesterday.

The raid was carried out by the Pahang Islamic Religious Department (Jaip), said a Malaysian daily.

The officers claim one of the workers who was sitting in the rear of the vehicle threw a packet of food outside the window when he realised they were being interrogated by the ‘food police.

The officers said: “When they were initially interrogated, they confessed the food were purchased through the back door of a shop in Endau, Johor.

In a separate raid at a shop in Kuala Rompin, enforcement officers found two men sitting with a cup of coffee on the table.

The five men were given a warning not to repeat the offence during the fasting month.

Upon conviction, those found guilty may be fined not more than RM3,000 or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both for a first offense, while the second or subsequent offense, a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both.

But netizens in Malaysia are calling the officers and the strict act of observance of not eating food in public as an act of ‘Daesh’.

According to some, the law states ‘eating in public’ whereas eating inside a van out of the public’s eye and in a closed shop are not ‘public’ matters.

Some netizens even said: “Makan rasuah juta2 tak nak tangkap” translated from Malay it means those who took millions in bribe are not caught.