SANDAKAN – It is every Muslim’s responsibility to ensure they only consume halal food, as anything else is considered “haram” (forbidden), said Sabah Mufti Datuk Bungsu Aziz Jaafar.
His remarks come in the wake of a recent crackdown on the smuggling of frozen chicken in Sandakan, which has raised concerns about the halal status of chicken supplies in the region.
“If you didn’t know it was ‘haram’, it does not mean that it is not ‘haram’,” Bungsu told Scoop.
“If individuals consume food without ensuring its halal status, it implies that they have consumed ‘haram’ food. Every Muslim is responsible for being aware of the status of the food they consume.”
Last Thursday, authorities confiscated approximately RM2.7 million worth of smuggled frozen chicken at a location in the BDC Light Industrial area.
The poultry products were believed to have originated from China, Australia, Denmark, and Poland, and were traced back to processing plants lacking approval from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), thus were without halal certification.
Following this incident, residents began questioning the Halal status of chicken they had recently consumed, as smuggled chicken may have already circulated throughout the district prior to the bust.
In response, Bungsu advised Muslims to purchase only meat that is clearly labelled as halal.
“Ensure that there is a halal logo and proper certification from the authorities. If it is unclear, it should be avoided, as it falls into the ‘syubhat’ (questionable) category, which could render it ‘haram.”
He also recommended that consumers only buy food, whether raw or cooked, from shops and restaurants that possess halal certification.
Meanwhile, a chicken vendor at Muhibbah Market in Mile 3, told Scoop that her sales remained unaffected by the news of the smuggled chicken.
However, she said some customers had inquired about the source of her chicken, adding that the chicken she sold came from a factory with a halal certification.
“It appears that people here aren’t overly concerned, but there have been a few customers asking about the source of my chicken, which is not something we typically encounter.”
The smuggling operation busted in Sandakan last Thursday was not the first of its kind this year.
Reports indicate that the police’s Wildlife Crime Bureau had seized approximately RM44,281,391.70 worth of frozen food in eight raids across Sabah and two raids in Sarawak from January to September this year. – October 2, 2023