KUALA LUMPUR: The government will look into improving and updating the existing process for halal certification of imported meat.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said the Department of Islamic Development's (Jakim) halal certification must be further clarified.
He said many halal certifications were given to countries where the frozen meat originated.
"We must look into how they (countries) deal with it (processing of halal meat).
"We will look at it from time to time on how we can improve this," he said after handing over food aid to residents of Taman Wahyu People's Housing Project here yesterday.
He said the legal aspect of the issue must also be addressed.
In the light of the recent issue regarding the halal certification of meat from abroad, he said the ministry recently posted some frequently asked questions on the matter on its official Facebook account for public reference.
"This highlights the role of Jakim and the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis). The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry also plays an important part in the process."
Last Monday, the New Straits Times front-paged a report on a meat cartel syndicate, which has been in operation for 40 years.
Syndicate members had reportedly bribed government officials to ensure that imported meat from non-certified halal sources abroad were certified halal after entering the Malaysian market. According to the report, the cartel used proxy companies to prevent any direct link to its leaders.
These companies, which import the meat, adopt Bumiputera or Muslim names to give the impression to suppliers that its products are halal.
The cartel reportedly imported kangaroo and horse meat, which would be mixed with halal-certified beef in Malaysia, before slapping the products with fake halal logos and selling them to suppliers.
Earlier this month, the authorities raided a meat-smuggling cartel in Senai, Johor, and seized 1,500 tonnes of frozen meat worth RM30 million.
The raid by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and other agencies was carried out following a report by Sinar Harian in November.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said Jakim would boost its enforcement and the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the issuance of halal certification for all imported products, including meat.
This was to ensure that Malaysians, particularly Muslims, could obtain halal meat from reliable sources that adhere to Islamic rules, he said, according to a Bernama report.
"The government, particularly Jakim, will continue to improve the SOP (for halal certification) and monitor the process for compliance.
"If we have to, we will increase our (Jakim) manpower," he said after attending a circumcision event at Dewan Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam near here yesterday.
Marzuk said Jakim would step up collaboration with the relevant agencies, including the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, to resolve the issue.