Govt to meet industry players over imported meat issue

 

The government will meet with industry players involved in the importation of meat and slaughtering of animals to ensure they understand the set guidelines, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said.

He said this was also to ensure a high level of compliance with the guidelines and integrity of the industry players.

“Besides that, we will identify the weaknesses in the SOP (standard operating procedure), which will be strengthened and streamlined, God willing, in January,” he said after handing over food donations from the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) at Al-Imam Al-Tirmizi Mosque in Seri Sentosa, Kuala Lumpur, today.

Zulkifli said the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) would issue a statement, today, on the issue of imported meat and slaughtering of animals in the country.

The meat cartel scandal has become a hot topic after the media reported on the smuggling of frozen meat from China, Ukraine, Brazil and Argentina before repackaging the meat using the halal logo at a warehouse in Senai, Johor.

Earlier, Zulkifli said MAIWP had channelled a total of RM623.66 million in tithe to the needy in the federal territories from January until November this year.

- Bernama