The Edge Markets
Senator Asmak Husin proposed a motion on an illegal meat cartel for wrongly using the logo of Jakim with the intention to deceive in accordance with Article 17 of the Rules of the Senate.
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 29): The issue of illegal meat cartels will be debated in Dewan Negara in accordance with Rule 17 (1) with the proposer to debate the matter for not more than 30 minutes and the same time to be given to the government to respond, said Dewan Negara President Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim.
For the matter to be considered by the Senate, he said, as the Dewan Negara Speaker, he must be satisfied that the matter raised meets three conditions, namely that it is specific, of public interest and urgent.
“I have studied the matter. Firstly, it is right, the matter is specific, secondly, it is of public interest and in need of urgent action, as well as supervision and the people’s understanding.
“Therefore, I allow this motion to be debated,” he added.
Earlier, Senator Asmak Husin proposed a motion on an illegal meat cartel for wrongly using the logo of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) with the intention to deceive in accordance with Article 17 of the Rules of the Senate.
“I think this motion involves public interest because it is a source of protein for Muslims who are the majority of Malaysian citizens. For the Muslim community, halal, haram, shubhah food can influence concern their religious faith, physical development and life.
“It also involves the good name of the government, especially Jakim, as the issuer of the halal logo, for which the products were believed to be halal, not only by Malaysians but the international community,” she said.
Asmak said the people are also becoming scared and angry over the case because until today, some brands that are still used by them are said to be involved in this case.
Investigation on the matter has been conducted for about a month and the people want the government to provide the list of the brands involved or at least outcome of the preliminary report, she added.
ARTICLE TWO
PM calls for special report on meat cartel scandal
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has ordered a special report on the meat cartel scandal to be submitted to the government following the recent expose on the matter.
Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) director-general Saifl Yazan Alwi revealed this during the “Ruang Bicara” programme on Bernama TV today.
“Our Prime Minister has asked for a special report, while our Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister (Datuk Ronald Kiandee) is also giving special attention to the matter.
“Everyone was shocked over the large quantity (of smuggled meat) that we seized recently.
“It (the seizure) sounded big, but compared to legitimate imported halal meat, it is quite small,” he said today.
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 local Malay daily Sinar Harian in November.
Last week, the New Straits Times reported that a meat cartel syndicate had been in operation in the country for the past 40 years.
Syndicate members had reportedly bribed government officials to ensure that imported meat from non-certified halal sources was certified halal after entering the Malaysian market.
According to the report, the cartel used proxy companies to prevent any direct link being made to its leaders.
