Netizen Takes Effort To Highlight Ham And Other Porcine Elements Muslims Must Be Wary Of

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WITH the ham issue raging on all media platforms, a social media influencer has decided to educate Muslim consumers on names of dishes that may contain pork.
“You can refer to it and save it to avoid confusion,” shared @twitmaerhean on the X platform.
Ini senarai nama lain bagi daging babi yang mungkin ramai tak tahu. Boleh rujuk dan simpan untuk elak kekeliruan. pic.twitter.com/ECWrsMZTPy
— ۟ (@twitmarhaen) January 22, 2025

This is because aside from ham which the list defines as meat from pig’s thigh, there are also “other pork parts” such as lard and bacon which many Muslims are oblivious to.
The list may not be complete but it nevertheless contains useful information on how pork is described in various Chinese dialects, including Hakka and Mandarin.
Aside from ham which the list defines as meat from pig’s thigh, there are also mentions of lard and bacon. There is also information on how pork is described in various Chinese dialects, including Hakka and Mandarin.
It also helpfully clarifies that certain foreign terms also refer to dishes traditionally prepared with pork, including various Japanese dishes such as Tonkatsu and Yakibuta.
The post has attracted over 426.6K views at time of publication with some questioning the veracity of the definitions, more specifically ‘ham’.
Some netizens contended that the definition of ham is of meat that has been cured or smoked. In this regard, it can be beef, chicken or turkey – and not necessary of pork origin.


One sought to helpfully add to the list by alerting Muslims from Peninsular Malaysia who visit Sabah “not to try Sinalau Bakas which is barbequed pork”.

While another commenter pointed out to be wary when in Thailand as “moo” refers to pork.

So does the Klang favourite a.k.a. bah kut teh which typically refers to the herbal soup that contains pork.

On the one hand, it can be said that such lists are helpful public service announcements to alert Muslim consumers who may not aware – due to language constraint or outside world exposure – of what popular local or foreign dishes contain.
For instance, a Muslim diner may inadvertently pick up a Tonkotsu-flavoured instant ramen packet unknowingly.
On the other hand, it can be argued that such lists contain misinformation that can further spark further confusion such as the aforementioned “ham”.
Yes, it traditionally referred to cuts of pork leg but as pointed out correctly, ham simply means meat that has been cured or smoked.
The same can be applied to the word “sausage” or “hamburger” as they, too, once contained pork in its European origin.
Are Malaysians getting too bogged down by polemics of language?
The last time we checked, roadside Ramly Burger stalls are still dishing out a Malaysians favourite in the form of a sausage bun that goes by its original American name – hot dog. – Focus Malaysia

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