ONLY 18PC OF IMPORTED BEEF FROM AUSSIE FIRM, SAYS IDRIS
Minister says authorities seeking more evidence, urges informant to come forward
ONLY 18 per cent of beef imported into the country comes from the Thomas Foods International (TFI) Lobethal abattoirs in Australia, which allegedly breached slaughtering standard operating procedures, food safety, hygiene and halal standards.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad yesterday said efforts to obtain more evidence to resolve the issue were ongoing and there was no compromise on halal requirements.
“There are 16 abattoirs, of which 15 are operational. The company exports about 18 per cent to us.
“If we were to follow what was exposed, it would be likely be more than that.
“But according to the facts provided by our attaché there, it is 18 per cent.”
The Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM), Pertubuhan Kemasyarakatan Rakyat (Pekemas) and Sahabat 99 had raised allegations of SOP violation by TFI, which was approved by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) to export beef to the country.
Pekemas president Faizan Mohd Nor said the alleged SOP breaches were based on video evidence and photographs, and corroborated by a witness, said to be a TFI abattoir employee.
Jakim suspended TFI’s slaughtering approval until the results of a probe were obtained.
Asked if the supply of beef from the abattoirs had reached Malaysia, Idris said he was not sure about supplies that had arrived prior to the suspension.
Idris said Jakim was tracking the informant, known only as The Hood Man, who had tipped off PPIM.
He urged the informant to cooperate with Jakim so verified information could be directly obtained instead of from a second party.
“According to the information, there was an officer who managed to contact him and said that he would call us back, but we have not heard from him.
“The informant is said to be a Somalian and we want complete information from him.”