JOHOR BAHRU – The Johor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened an investigation paper on the illegal importation of frozen meat case, which went viral on social media recently.
According to an MACC source, the investigation was being conducted under Section 16 and Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009.
“The focus of the probe is on the falsification of the Customs 1 form, which is the declaration of import items, and corrupt practices among the agencies involved.
“Cooperation from various agencies such as the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP), Veterinary Services Department, Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS) and Customs Department have been obtained,” the source added.
Meanwhile, Johor MACC director, Datuk Azmi Alias, when contacted, urged all parties to come forward to assist in the investigation into the case.
He, however, said discussing the matter in the media would make the MACC investigation more difficult.
“The MACC views seriously this issue as it involves the wellbeing of the people, especially Muslims in the country,” he said.
Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee meanwhile has said that Approved Permit (AP) holders who are found to be working closely with cartels bringing in non-certified meat will be subject to stern action including having their licences suspended.
For now, he said investigation was being carried out by the authorities into cartels importing these meat, even if there are AP holders and civil servants involved.
“Let the investigation be carried out first and when it is completed, further action will be taken including suspending the AP if found guilty,” he said of the action to be taken against AP holders involved with cartels importing non-halal meat.
Kiandee, who was met by the media after officiating the National Digital Agriculture Conference (DigAc) 2020 here today, said the issue of smuggling non-halal imported meat was a serious matter and needed to be eradicated immediately.
He, meanwhile, stressed that the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) constantly ascertained the halal status of the 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 were doubts about 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.
A frozen meat company warehouse in Senai Industrial Park, Johor was raided on Dec 2 by the authorities following intelligence by Maqis for allegedly involved in smuggling activities.
The cartel was believed to have made the warehouse as the location to generate fake labels and stamps which would later be used on the repackaged meat.
Meanwhile in Johor Baru, Johor Mufti Datuk Yahya Ahmad proposed that the federal government limits the number of countries exporting halal meat to Malaysia.
“It is time for the Malaysian government to limit the licence to import halal meat from abroad to only Muslim-owned companies, whether fully owned or the largest shareholder of the company. Only the Muslims can understand the sensitivity of halal food for the Muslims,” he said in a statement.
Yahya said the government should also send halal enforcement officers from Malaysia to each slaughterhouses and cattle farms selected to import meat to this country.
He added that Malaysian importers should avoid depending only on halal certification from the exporting countries as they were issued by Muslim community associations there.
“Instead, get validation from state Islamic Religious Councils and Jakim as the authorities in processing and issuing the halal certification,” he said.
