SERDANG – Approved Permit (AP) holders who are found to be working closely with a cartel bringing in non-certified meat will be subject to stern action, including having their licences suspended, said Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee.
For now, he said investigations are being carried out by the authorities into the cartel importing this meat, and will continue even if there are AP holders and civil servants involved.
“When investigations have been completed, further action will be taken, including suspending suspects’ APs if they are found guilty,” he said of the action to be taken against AP holders involved with the cartel importing non-halal meat.
Kiandee, who was met by the media after officiating the National Digital Agriculture Conference 2020 here today, said the issue of smuggling non-halal meat is a serious matter and needs to be eradicated immediately.
He added that his ministry and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) constantly ascertains the halal status of meat and poultry brought into the country.
The media today reported that the cartel imports meat from non-halal-certified slaughterhouses from a few countries. There are doubts about the halal status and quality of the meat.
It is believed that the cartel has bribed some government employees, including certain agency officials, to pass inspections at the country’s entrances.
Previously, a warehouse of a frozen meat company in Taman Perindustrian Senai, Johor, was raided by the authorities as a result of intelligence by the Malaysian Quarantine Inspection Services Department for suspected involvement in the smuggling of frozen meat. – Bernama, December 21, 2020
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