Health Ministry welcomes Fatwa Committee on human milk bank | My Sinchew

Health Ministry welcomes Fatwa Committee on human milk bank | My Sinchew: Health Ministry welcomes Fatwa Committee on human milk bank
News 2012-01-18 17:20
PAPAR, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry today welcomed the declaration by the Fatwa Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs that it is "haram" (prohibited in Islam) to set up a human milk bank.

Deputy Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the ministry would also not encourage the setting up of such an institution.

"We have to know the woman who gives her milk to our children because there are elements on religion which have to be respected," she told reporters after presenting the living cost allowance to fishermen here today.

Rosnah, who is Papar Member of Parliament, said this in response to a media report last week on the decision by the national fatwa committee to a suggestion for the setting up of a human milk bank.

The committee is of the view that the creation of a human milk bank closely relates to the rules that would render it haram because when babies are breast-fed from one or more women they will become 'milk siblings' and marriage between the individuals is forbidden.

On today's function, Rosnah advised fishermen in the area to register with the Papar Fishermen Association to facilitate distribution of government aid to them.

A total of 502 fishermen received their monthly allowance of RM200 each at the function.