Meat cartel: Govt mulls setting up of RCI
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is committed to addressing the issue on imported frozen meat bearing fake halal logos as soon as possible, including considering the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said discussions have started and will continue until the issue is resolved.
“We will discuss with Jakim (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia), Halal Jakim and several ministries to see where the weaknesses are for us to fix.
“I promise immediate action will be taken within Jakim’s standards and jurisdiction,” he told reporters after inspecting a centre for imported frozen meat, Lucky Frozen Sdn Bhd here yesterday.
On the setting up of the RCI, Zulkifli had asked to be given time to discuss it first.
“We need to do an indepth study. But it will not take long, two or three days or a week for us to see the response and information on the things that we can tackle immediately,” he said.
The media reported that a meat cartel was believed to be involved in smuggling non-certified meat from China, Ukraine, Brazil and
Argentina before repackaging them with fake halal labels at a warehouse in Senai, Johor.
Meanwhile, on the action taken against TH Properties Sdn Bhd CEO Damanhuri Mahmod over his alleged misconduct, Zulkifli said he had held a meeting with the latter over the matter via video conferencing yesterday, and gave him some advice.
“He has also shown me the letter of apology that he issued on Dec 25...I said I do not want such language or words used even if we are in a state of extreme anger, we must follow what the Prophet Muhammad has taught us.
“God willing, he promised me (he would heed the advice) and we want to focus on the development of TH Properties and other matters as much as possible to restore the stability, strength and integrity of Tabung Haji,” he said.
Recently, a video showing Damanhuri uttering rude words in a meeting believed to involve the administrative staff of the real estate company had gone viral. —