IPOH: A Facebook user created a stir on social media after claiming that fresh chicken she bought at a supermarket in Kuala Kangsar, Perak recently was not slaughtered according to Islamic law.
The woman, who went by the name Fathin Elida, via a post in the Warga Kuala Kangsar Facebook group, said the incident happened when she recently went to a supermarket in town.
She said she would always ask for chicken head to cook, but would usually be turned down.
"I don't know why but this time, I insisted on having some and fortunately, the worker gave some to me.
"But when I saw it, I was stunned to find that the chicken's neck had been pierced," she wrote.
In Islam, the slaughter of animals for food has to be done in accordance with the religion's teachings to ensure that is 'halal' or permissible for consumption.
These include reciting a prayer before the act, as well as ensuring that the trachea, esophagus and veins are severed with a clean stroke of a sharp knife.
The person also has to ensure that the animal's death results from the act of slaughtering it and not any other reason.
Fathin said the discovery of the pierced neck led her to believe that the chicken had not been slaughtered according to Islamic practices.
"No wonder it's been difficult to get (chicken heads). It's common knowledge that if a chicken's neck is pierced, it's unlikely to be halal," she wrote.
She also claimed that she has lodged a complaint with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Ministry.
Perak KPDN director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail said that based on the e-complaint system, the department had not received any official complaint regarding the issue.
"Further investigations will be made by the nearest KPDN branch based on the information shared through the Facebook post.
"We will conduct checks and will extend it to the Perak State Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk) if there is evidence that the activities do not comply with Shariah," he said.
Kamalludin also advised the public to channel any complaints through various channels provided by KPDN for consumers.
Any complaints or inquiries regarding consumer issues can be made through https://e-aduan.kpdn.gov.my or the WhatsApp application at 019-2794317 and 019-8488000.
This, however, isn't the first time such allegations have been made.
A similar controversy took place in June, 2014 when a supermarket in Shah Alam, Selangor was accused of selling chicken which were not slaughtered according to Islam.
Members of the public had shared a Facebook post which claimed that the chicken bought there had pierce marks at the neck.
However, checks by the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) as well as the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry on the supermarket turned up no such evidence.
The supermarket, said officers, sourced its chicken from accredited halal suppliers.