M’sia ministry may punish Ninja Joe for ‘misleading’ P. Ramly burgers

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNKK) said it may act against Ninja Joe for naming one of its pork burgers “P. Ramly”, minister Hamzah Zainuddin reportedly said on Wednesday (Oct 26).

Malay daily Sinar Harian quoted Mr Hamzah on Thursday as saying that his ministry had conducted its investigation on the chain’s outlets in the Klang Valley, Malacca and Negri Sembilan.

“Our enforcement officers have met with the said company and spoke about it. We will take the necessary action if we are certain that they have violated existing laws,” he said.

Mr Hamzah said KPDNKK has the power to act on any businesses found to have misled consumers.

Malay daily Berita Harian reported two days ago that the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) was demanding action against Ninja Joe over its “P. Ramly” burger, claiming that the name “confused” the public, even though a poster of the product at a shopping mall in Petaling Jaya clearly stated that it was a pork burger.

The paper also reported a woman who claimed that the “P. Ramly” name disrespected the late artiste, P Ramlee.

Separately, the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) and its Negri Sembilan counterpart have reportedly run their own investigations against Ninja Joe and confiscated several items in their outlets, although the pork burger chain is owned by non-Muslims.

Berita Harian, quoted Jais as saying the agency had already handed over its investigation papers to the KPDNKK, hoping for prosecution.

“Investigation papers had been finalised and handed over to KPDNKK for the purpose of prosecuting. Jais together with officials from KPDNKK had conducted inspections on the premise in Kota Damansara and we confiscated a bunting, menu and a receipt of the sales of P Ramly burger for investigation,” the source was quoted as saying.

It was not stated what offence Ninja Joe committed, if any, either under Shariah or civil laws.

At the same time the Negri Sembilan Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS) deputy director Zuraini Yahaya was reported saying that his agency is expected to submit its investigation papers to the Federal Islamic Advancement Department (Jakim) for further action.

JHEAINS had already investigated Ninja Joe's Seremban store recently, it reported. “We have inspected the premise but we cannot reveal our findings as it could jeopardise investigation. The papers will be handed over to Jakim which will be perused together with its own investigation on the chain nationwide,” he said.

Berita Harian also reported that the Veteran Artistes Association wanted the police to take action against Ninja Joe for what it deemed to be provacation against the Muslim community by using a name that mirrors Malay icon P. Ramlee for its pork burger.

Its president Soni Abdullah and five other artistes were said to have lodged a police report against the company on Wednesday.

“In fact, the statement of the propierator is an insult and confusing by using the acronym P for pork so when it's put together with Ramly, it spells pork Ramly,” Mr Soni told Berita Harian.

The group said it wants Ninja Joe to make an open apology to the Muslim community for desecrating P. Ramlee's name and image.

Ninja Joe immediately said it would change the name of their “P. Ramly” pork burger and remove posters of the product after a Muslim consumer group found it offensive.

Explaining the move, Ninja Joe proprietor Kelvin Tan told Malay Mail Online that the burger joint, which has outlets in Petaling Jaya, Klang, Seremban and Singapore, had named the burger P Ramly when they launched it on Hari Merdeka as a homage to the popular Ramly Burger.

“(It) has been in Malaysia for a very long time; it’s iconic. It’s a homage to them,” Mr Tan had said, referring to the popular burger meat company. MALAY MAIL ONLINE