Only chicken imports from The Netherlands allowed — Jheains
KOTA KINABALU: Members of the public were reminded to buy chicken at halal certified outlets in order to be sure the product is halal.
Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jheains) principal assistant director (Enforcement Division) Abidin Ali Hassan said that the premises must have the original halal certification and not photostat copies.
“Any premises that are not granted halal certification means that the premises is also unable to guarantee that whatever is sold there is fully halal.”
“We urge the public to be sure of buying (chicken meat) at the original halal certified premises. Not a photostat copy, but the original certificate for the premises,” said Abidin whe met during Sambutan Raya Perdana Agensi-Agensi Islam Negeri Sabah at Dewan Saadah, Wisma Muis here yesterday.
He was commenting on recent operations in Sandakan, Tawau and Kota Kinabalu during the Ramadan month, during which tons of imported chicken were seized in Tawau and Kota Kinabalu.
The imported chicken from the United States (US) was not registered with the Sabah Veterinary Department and not permitted by Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to enter Sabah market, said Abidin.
Abidin said that currently the imported chicken which was allowed into Sabah was only from The Netherlands while imported turkey meat were from the US.
“Agencies which were involved during the operations were The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK), Department of Veterinary Services and Animal Industry (Dovsai), City Hall (DBKK) and Health Department.”
“Such an operation is done every Ramadan in order to ensure that the chicken meat supplied during Raya are halal and good,” he said.
He also explained that the imported chickens were seized and actions were taken by the Dovsai as it was under the department’s jurisdiction.
Jhaeins always monitored imported item together with other agencies, Abidin said, adding that actions would be taken against suppliers which committed such an offence taking off their halal logo.