KUALA LUMPUR: Non-governmental organisations have called for a complete overhaul of the frozen meat import system following an exposé that senior government officers are working with a cartel to smuggle non-certified meat into Malaysia.
They believe that the actions of these officers have placed the nation's health, safety and religious aspects of Muslims in jeopardy.
Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia lead activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said there was an urgent need for the entire system that manages the supplies, including the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis), Customs Department and port authorities, to be overhauled.
"This has been going on for 40 years and it should be brought to a stop. We have to relook the whole system itself, strengthen enforcement and educate consumers on what to look out for and where they should buy their meat products from.
"Some authorities are probably protecting the illegal activity by letting it remain undiscovered. This is where the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must step in.
"There should be a countermeasure effort such as forming integrity units within all of the relevant authorities.
"Consumers should not be subjected to such unfair treatment as they are unaware of the origin of their meat products. What if it is contaminated?
"Health matters should not be taken lightly and the irresponsible parties should not be focusing on just making money," he told the New Straits Times.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) chief executive officer Datuk Paul Selvaraj urged the government to act fast and firmly as the matter involved not just the safety of meat products but also religious sensitivity.
"Strict enforcement is vital and this should not be taken as a joke.
"People are consuming meat products and genuinely believing that they are halal certified.
"People will lose confidence in the authorities and that is not what we want. Immediate action must be initiated to put a halt to this. The regulators must step in," he said.
Fomca deputy president Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman slammed the activities as "unforgivable" and called for the government officers in question to be transferred out.
The MACC, he added, must also investigate the senior government officers involved.
"The issue here now is meat products being sold using fake halal logos.
"Efforts must be taken to ensure the production of fake halal logos is stopped.
"If not, how are consumers going to trust the meat products?
"They can, however, be smart consumers by checking for halal certification on the Islamic Development Department Malaysia app," he added.