Social media posts in Muslim-majority Malaysia have targeted an ethnically Chinese lawmaker with a fabricated headline claiming she backed halal certification for pork, which is forbidden in Islam. Teresa Kok denied making such a statement and has lodged a police report over the false claim, while Malay-language daily Berita Harian also denied ever publishing such a report.
The fabricated report shared on Facebook on January 14, 2026 features an image of Kok, a lawmaker from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a member of Malaysia's ruling coalition. Its Malay-language headline reads: "Halal certification for pork is necessary."
Its Malay-language caption criticises Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his party, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, reading: "Ahh, that's it… What do the PKR gang say, Anwar Ibrahim… this is what you all wanted" (archived link).
More than half of Malaysia's 34 million population are Muslims, who must observe strict halal dietary standards under which meat must be slaughtered in a specific manner (archived here and here).
Pork and all pork-derived products, however, are entirely prohibited.
Kok, who is known for her outspoken views, has frequently been targeted over her remarks, including by members of her own coalition.
Most recently, she filed a defamation suit against Akmal Salleh, the youth chief of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a coalition partner. The case is scheduled to be heard next month (archived link).
Akmal had called Kok an...
Social media posts in Muslim-majority Malaysia have targeted an ethnically Chinese lawmaker with a fabricated headline claiming she backed halal certification for pork, which is forbidden in Islam....