SHAH ALAM: Individuals and companies involved in a cartel that has been accused of meat smuggling and mixing different meats before passing it off as halal meat in the open market should not forgiven, says opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
The PKR president also urged the government to act immediately and take stern action against the manipulation of the halal certificate by the so-called “meat cartel”.
“I think we cannot forgive those who manipulate the religion. This is a serious offence,” he said at a book launch here. He also described the act of importing illegal meat as despicable.
He urged the relevant authorities, including the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) to take responsibility as the government agency was in charge of halal certification.
“The halal certification issue is not under the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry alone. Jakim has to be equally responsible for this.
The issue of meat mixing and wrongly declared halal meats hit the headlines after it was reported that a “cartel” had been importing frozen meat from countries like China, Ukraine, Brazil and Argentina.
Reports indicate that meats from these countries are repackaged with those with halal logos at a warehouse in Johor. Authorities have seized 1,500 tonnes of meat worth RM30 million from a facility in Senai.