A TikTok user in Singapore has started an online conversation after he raised a question about why the IKEA store in Alexandra does not have halal food. The user, named Jay Ishhaq Rajoo, posted a video on August 28 where he expressed his disappointment while standing in the IKEA Alexandra restaurant. “There’s nothing halal here, so I guess no food for us Muslims,” he said in the clip.
He directly addressed IKEA in the video, asking, “I know you have one in Tampines, but what’s so difficult [about having] a halal area in Queenstown? Don’t Muslims come and buy your stuff?” His question sparked a lot of mixed reactions from people in the comments, with some even calling him “entitled.” The comments on his post were eventually turned off, but one person’s comment, as reported by The New Paper, showed a different viewpoint: “I’m a muslim and not bothered about the need for IKEA to cater for Muslim. Don’t make Islam look like the whole world needs to cater to us.”
Jay made a follow-up video on August 30 to explain his position. In the longer video, he defended himself by saying he wasn’t being entitled. “I’m a minority, I’m not entitled to anything,” he said. He clarified that his request was not about privilege, but about a dietary requirement. He stated, “For me to ask for halal food is not an entitlement, it’s a dietary requirement.” He also explained that his first video was meant to be sarcastic and that he did not intend to cause any trouble. Jay humorously said, “The only thing I stir is my cup of kopi and critical thinking,” while continuing to question why there was a difference between the different IKEA locations in Singapore.
Jay also noted that IKEA has been operating in Singapore since 1978 and believes the company “knows its social responsibility” to the community. He felt that they should “walk [their] talk” and that the lack of halal options at the Alexandra store was an act of “carelessness” on their part.
IKEA has since responded to the situation, offering an explanation for the different offerings at its stores. The company said, “While the Swedish Restaurant and Swedish Bistro at IKEA Alexandra do not currently offer halal-certified meals, customers can enjoy halal-certified options at IKEA Tampines.” They explained that the Tampines store is much larger and has the necessary space for “a dedicated halal kitchen, serving lines, and other facilities required for halal preparation.”
