MUSLIMS in the country are still reeling from the shock over reports of a syndicate that has been importing non-halal meat and selling them off as halal products in Malaysia for some 40 years.

The meat, smuggled out of ports, would be taken to warehouses where it would be mixed with halal-certified meat and repacked with fake halal logos, before being sold in the market.

Investigations revealed that the frozen meat imported by the syndicate from non-certified countries was not limited to beef, but also included horse and kangaroo.

Details are coming out in bits and pieces after the authorities raided a warehouse in Johor on December 1.

What happened?

Frozen meat without halal certification is smuggled in from abroad, repackaged and distributed as halal meat.

The syndicate is alleged to have existed and operated for 40 years with an average monthly import of approximately 300 to 400 containers, each capable of carrying 25 tonnes of meat.

It involves illegal meat from Canada, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Spain, Mexico, Bolivia, Paraguay, Hong Kong, China and Columbia, China, Ukraine, Brazil and Argentina.

The ingredients include meats and organs, such as lungs, tails, stomach and neck of various livestock, such as buffaloes, horses and kangaroos.

What is the cause?

Meat is the main staple food in Malaysia and the individuals bringing in the uncertified meat are profiteers.

This is because meat that is not certified halal is cheaper and the profit margins bigger.

Halal-certified meat is more expensive because it has to go through a verification process along the supply chain, including livestock health status, slaughter, storage, transportation and sales.

Why is it considered illegal?

The meat comes from suppliers who are not certified and audited by the Malaysian authorities.

It differs from the meat from halal-certified sources who undergo inspections, audits and certification from bodies approved by the Malaysian authorities.

This supply is mixed with meat from halal-certified sources and then sold throughout Malaysia.

The government has given halal status to only 28 slaughterhouses in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan and South Africa.

It also approved another 11 buffalo slaughterhouses in India and Pakistan.

Import certificates are issued to supplier countries, such as Australia, Argentina, Brazil, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Japan and New Zealand.

What are the procedures?

According to the Malaysian quarantine and inspection services department (Maqis), the imported products must be certified to have an import permit, health certificate, halal certificate, country of origin certificate, invoice, bill of lading and packing list.

After being approved at that level, the goods still need to be physically inspected, including commodity information, temperature, slaughterhouse, expiration date and the physical condition of the goods.

Who are the suspects?

The party is referred to as an illegal meat syndicate involving a network of authorities in the supply chain starting from the slaughterhouse to the retail shelves.

It involves importers, warehouse storage, transporters and even printing companies that produce the fake halal stamps and labels.

Another party is an official from a network of agencies involved in surveillance, supervision and commissioning to give approval and guarantee the entry of halal meat.

How did the syndicate work with officials?

The syndicate’s strategy is to avoid taxes and costs of halal certificates to profit from cheap import prices and good profit margins in the local market.

Thus, the officers involved were allegedly bribed with cash and overseas holidays to ensure that goods that violated the rules were allowed to enter the market.

The malpractice process begins at the slaughterhouse in the supplier country, where government officials have to provide halal and quality certification.

Who are the stakeholders?

Apart from Maqis, the responsibility is on the Customs Department, Johor Islamic Religious Department and Veterinary Services Department.

It also involves the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).

The ministry is currently leading an investigation into smuggling cases and fake halal labels.

Investigations are focused on methods of importing illegal meat from illegal sources, including questionable halal status and breach of the country’s main border entrance.

As for the issue of integrity, all these bodies are under the supervision of the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

How was the meat smuggled and marketed?

The supply of non-halal meat enters the country through Pasir Gudang port and Tg Pelepas port.

The syndicate used fake documents, including customs forms, import permits, halal certificates and even payment receipts.

It is taken to the warehouse along with meat imported from a legitimate source.

In the warehouse, meat is repackaged using foreign labour and distributed and sold to markets throughout Malaysia.

How did the syndicate escape supervision?

Operators are reportedly savvy with port operations and know how to get around inspection controls with help from “insiders”.

The syndicate forged documents, such as approval forms for the transit of merchandise from one free zone to another in the port area.

The syndicate also used permits meant to import fruits to bring in the meat and provided false details about the local importer.

How was this activity detected?

Maqis sent its officials to the syndicate representatives fronting as a frozen meat supplier and importer looking to break into the local market.

It culminated in a raid on December 1 and the seizure of 1,500 tonnes of frozen meat worth RM30 million in a box with a fake halal logo in Senai, Johor.

What is the status of the investigation?

MACC has strong evidence that enforcement personnel assisted the syndicate in Johor.

Johor MACC director Azmi Alias confirmed that the investigation is ongoing while deputy minister Rosol Wahid said it is inspecting 29 wholesale premises and 130 retailers. – December 29, 2020.