December 23, 2020 @ 5:33pm
PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has called on traders not to make any hasty decision over the sale of frozen meat in the country amid concerns over its halal status following the recent discovery of fake halal certification.

Its minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said, by collectively stop the sale of frozen meat in an abrupt manner, meat traders could pose a problem for many consumers.

"This could inevitably lead to the sale of genuine halal-certified meat in the market being halted as well, causing a problem to those who want to consume the meat," he said.

Alexander was responding to the New Straits Times (NST) report on calls by Kuala Lumpur Bumiputera Traders and Hawkers Association to its members to temporarily halt the sale of beef-based products, following reports that a meat cartel had been importing non-certified halal meat and slapping it with fake halal certificates.

Yesterday, its president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman had said the move was necessary to address the growing doubt over the halal status of frozen beef in the market.

Alexander said Muslim consumers were advised to refrain from buying imported frozen meat if they feel uncertain of its halal status.

"Only buy from reliable sources while waiting for the investigations to be concluded," he said at the launch of Back to School Programme and Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) Prihatin Business Registration Scheme (SPPP) held at the ministry's today.

Meanwhile, Alexander said investigations on the imported meat from non-halal certified slaughterhouses was still underway.

He said investigations were not carried out solely by the ministry, but also involved other ministries, government agencies and departments.

"As for the ministry, the investigations are focused on the wrong use of the (certified) halal logo, as well as other (non-certified) labels used."

On Monday, NST reported that a meat cartel has been bribing senior government officers from four agencies to bring non-certified meat into Malaysia and passing it as halal-certified.

It is believed that the cartel imports meat from non-halal certified slaughterhouses in countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Spain, and Mexico.

It is understood that the cartel has been in operation for more than 40 years.

Meanwhile, on back-to-school sales campaigns, Nanta said the ministry had simplified the application process for traders to be part of the economic activity.

He said interested traders only needed to apply for cheap sale notice via the My Sales Tracker application online.

"Within 24 hours of the application being made, traders can start with sales initiatives for their back to school sales."

On the SPPP by CCM, Nanta said the scheme had also been expanded for youths and single mothers, called the 1 Student 1 Business Scheme (S1P1P).

He said under the SPPP, single mothers and youths from the B40 group, as well as students, can now register their businesses for free with CCM. Applications for the scheme can be made via ezbiz.ssm.com.my.

It was reported that seven million youths and 150,000 single mothers from the B40 group are expected to benefit from the scheme.

At the event, Alexander also handed the business registration certificates to the five earliest traders under SPPP.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/12/651746/domestic-trade-ministry-dont-make-hasty-decision-stopping-sale-imported