KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) does not rule out the possibility that non-halal meat were being smuggled into the country and sold off as halal.
In a special live interview on the department's Facebook page, its research division senior director Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said it was "not impossible to happen".
He believed this was not the first time such things had happened.
"During a forum, we have been told that such cases also occurred in Singapore before.
"Because of this, Indonesia does not trust the (halal) meat from Singapore.
"The meat reportedly entered the warehouse in the port and the packaging was changed with halal labelling on it.
"So it is not impossible for this to happen in Malaysia today," he said.
Sirajuddin, however, declined to confirm nor deny reports that claimed such operations had been going on for about 40 years.
He said the figure could have originated from industry players.
However, he said apart from proving the corrupt practises, there was also a need to address 'leakages' in the import process of the meat and ensure such case must not recur in the future.
He also agreed that the irresponsible parties behind the smuggling activities should be arrested to face the law.
On the list of companies believed to be involved in the meat cartel operations, he however said Jakim has no details on the matter.
"The investigators have all the necessary information on the case and we believe this will be revealed once they get a clearer picture," he added.
Last week, the New Straits Times reported that a meat cartel syndicate has been in operation in the country for 40 years.
Syndicate members had reportedly bribed government officials to ensure that imported meat from non-certified halal sources abroad were certified halal after entering the Malaysian market.
According to the report, the cartel used proxy companies to prevent any direct link to its leaders.
These companies, which import the meat, adopt Bumiputera or Muslim names to give the impression to suppliers that its products are halal.
The cartel reportedly imported kangaroo and horse meat, which would be mixed with halal-certified beef in Malaysia, before slapping the products with fake halal logos and selling them to suppliers.
Earlier this month, the authorities raided a meat-smuggling cartel in Senai, Johor, and seized 1,500 tonnes of frozen meat worth RM30 million.
The raid by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and other agencies was carried out following a report by Sinar Harian in November.
Sirajuddin, who is also a former Halal Hub director, clarified that Jakim was not the only agency involved throughout the halal certification of abattoirs.
He said there will also be personnel from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the Health Ministry visiting slaughterhouses abroad.
They will then present the audit reports to panellist from various agencies and experts.
The findings will then go through another process of discussion before Jakim gave recommendations on importing the meat into the country.
Following the news report recently, he urged the halal meat industry players to assure its users of its halal certification status.
"There are some industry players who imported it directly from the certified abattoirs.
"Now they may come forward to clear the air on their halal product status," he added.