Johor to discuss action against ‘meat cartel’

KULAI – The Johor government will hold a special meeting on Monday to formulate measures and decide the action to be taken against a “meat cartel” believed to be smuggling in the frozen product from abroad and repackaging it with fake halal labels.

State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Tosrin Jarvanthi said the meeting will involve the state Islamic Religious Department, state Halal Council and port representatives.

“This issue is very serious because it can cause harm to consumers, not only Muslims in this state... but also the whole country.

“I will discuss this matter and formulate a framework on the next steps to be taken to stop this meat cartel,” he told reporters today after inspecting the warehouse of a frozen meat supplier at the Senai Industrial Park that was raided by the authorities on Wednesday.

Tosrin, who is also state Halal Council chairman, said a halal directory app will be developed, and is expected to be launched next March.

Johor Customs Department enforcement division senior officer Khalik Drahman, meanwhile, said the manager of the frozen meat supplier that was raided will be detained on suspicion of involvement in the said cartel.

He said the man, a local in his 40s, will be held under the Customs Act 1967 to facilitate investigations.

“We will also seize three containers of frozen meat without the halal logo. The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry will seize (meat) that has the halal logo.

“Based from what we have seen, this company was using the repackaging methods for Australian products. Perhaps, it is to increase the price as people have confidence in Australian products.

“We have not yet found the original packaging for the meat.”

He added that the meat will be sent to the Chemistry Department to determine its type.

On Wednesday, it was reported that the cartel, which has a warehouse in Senai, was found to be smuggling in frozen meat from China, Ukraine, Brazil and Argentina before repackaging the product with the halal logo and selling it throughout Malaysia. – Bernama, December 4, 2020