KOTA BARU – The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) will step up enforcement and tighten the standard operating procedure for halal certification, for imported goods including meat.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said this is to ensure that Muslims, as well as others, are able to get clean and halal food.
“God willing, with it (meat cartel) being exposed, the government, including Jakim, will improve the SOP and monitoring, and if needed, increase (Jakim’s) manpower,” he told reporters at Dewan Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam near here today.
It was reported that the “cartel” smuggled in kangaroo and horse meat from overseas, passed it off as beef, and repackaged it with the halal logo for sale in Malaysia.
Marzuk said Jakim will boost collaboration with the relevant bodies, including the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, to resolve the issue. – Bernama, December 26, 2020