SERDANG: The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry (Mafi) will not hesitate to suspend the issuance of import permits or Approved Permits (AP) of companies involved in the fake halal meat cartel.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said the authorities should conduct a probe and take immediate action against those who conspired with the cartel so that such an issue would not crop up again.
The arrests of those involved in the illegal activity must be expedited he said, as the issue involving the fake halal meat cartel is improper in Malaysia. This as the necessary approval required in the country needs to go through many parties, including the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).
"Yes (suspend the AP) if their involvement is proven. Of course, action will be taken.
"It is up to the relevant authorities to make an arrest on this issue as it is a matter that should not have occurred.
"So, the authorities should take action to curb this problem that should not have taken place. This is because of the many government agencies that are involved ... of course (the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, Royal Malaysian Customs Department and so on) should also curb the problem so that it does not happen again," he said.
Kiandee told this to reporters after opening the National Digital Agriculture Conference at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) here today.
The Minister meanwhile denied knowledge on the involvement of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) personnel with the cartel's activities.
However, he warned that anyone from any agency or those affiliated with the ministry who were found to be conspiring with the cartel would face action
Kiandee also said that an initial probe found that the meat consignment concerned was meant for trans-shipment
It can be moved, opened and sold in the local market.
"It (the meat) is not necessarily (meant) for this country but undergoes transit in Malaysia and is exported to other countries.
"That is meant to be outbound (for markets abroad) but instead, it is offloaded in our country," he said.
Kiandee explained that Mafi controls the issuance of meat and poultry import licenses approved by his ministry for domestic use.
On factories or companies exporting poultry and meat abroad, he explained that Mafi together with Jakim conduct scheduled audits and inspections on their adherence to the halal code of practice.
On Dec 1, in a joint operation, authorities crippled a "meat cartel" that smuggled uncertified frozen meat from Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine and China.
A total of 1,500 tonnes of frozen meat with an estimated value of RM30 million was seized during the raid at a warehouse in Senai Industrial Park, Johor.
The products were said to have been smuggled through Johor's main seaports, while the warehouse was believed to be where the smugglers generated fake labels and stamps which would then be used on the repackaged meat and sold nationwide.
Authorities said the cartel had been active for years and to avoid detection, they allegedly falsified import documents, permits and halal certificates besides also importing products from legitimate sources and mixing it with their stock.