Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar

MALAYSIANS, particularly Muslims, would have at some point in time eaten non-halal and diseased meat for more than 40 years if the alleged corruption scandal involving a meat cartel and at least four government agencies is eventually found to be true.

The cartel, with the supposed connivance and assistance of bribed senior government officers, is alleged to have smuggled frozen meat from Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Spain and Mexico into Malaysia where the meat is repacked in packaging bearing the halal logo.

It is believed that the frozen meat included horse meat, kangaroo meat, poor quality beef, and meat from diseased animals for the consumption of unsuspecting Malaysians. 

This is utterly disturbing as it constitutes a serious transgression of a religious obligation and ethics: halal violation and corruption, both of which are haram from an Islamic viewpoint.

In fact, this alleged scandal suggests a new high in Malaysia’s corrupt practices as the illegal activities have been going on for the last 40 years, possibly abetted by a number of Muslims, and under the watch of at least four government agencies dominated by Muslims.

Forty years is a long time that would have seen a regeneration of people being sucked into such scandalous operations – and also fully enjoying the fruits of their dark labour. This also means that the nefarious operations are well placed and have firmly taken root.

The alleged illegal activities of these officers would also put into question the integrity of the institutions they represent and work for.

As well, it’s worrying that this scandal may pose health risks to those who had consumed the questionable meat over a long period of time.

The illicit operations also raise the question as to what extent the Islamic values, which have been infused in the civil service and elsewhere in the society since the 1980s, managed to serve as an effective bulwark against such heinous activities.

It’s even more appalling if the alleged corruption also involved offers of sex to the Muslim perpetrators as well. Not exactly a good example for a Muslim-majority country like Malaysia.

The alleged meat cartel scandal is also a ghastly betrayal of the trust that has been firmly placed by Muslim consumers on the halal certification of Jakim (Malaysian Islamic Development Department). The halal logo is supposed to evoke a sense of certainty and security.

Malaysia is the leading global halal hub with an annual export value that is worth billions of ringgit for halal products, and scandals such as this are obviously not in the best interest of the country.

Which is why it’s understandable that Jakim is uneasy about members of the public making various allegations and conjectures about this matter when investigation into it has not been finalised yet.

Such murmuring would cast doubts about the trustworthiness of its halal certification at both domestic and international levels.

But this also means that Jakim’s halal certification should be jealously guarded against possible acts of forgery. As is the case of any form of branding, a smeared reputation of a brand would require some time to be rehabilitated, if at all possible, and to regain consumer trust.

Muslims, including those in the civil service, are fully aware that what is generally regarded as haram (forbidden) cannot be made halal (kosher). Corruption snugly fits the bill. – December 25, 2020.