PUCHONG: Police arrested 12 Bangladeshi workers and seized more than 6.5 tonnes of raw chicken during a raid on a chicken processing plant in Kampung Sri Aman Hilir here over suspected breaches of halal slaughtering requirements.
Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (JKDNKA) deputy director (Operations) Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim said the workers, who were allegedly without valid travel documents, were arrested during the 12.40am raid on Friday (Oct 30).
They have been remanded for 14 days until Nov 13.
The plant's owner, a local man in his early 30s, also had his statement recorded, with further action to be determined based on the investigation into his role in the operation.
The Environment Department has also issued a notice to impound equipment at the premises, while the seized chickens have been placed under the custody of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) pending disposal.
Muhammad said preliminary investigations found that the plant, which could process more than 40,000 chickens a day, had allegedly used electrical voltage far above the permitted level during water-bath stunning.
He said inspections found that 60 volts were used at the first gate near the front of the processing line, while 130 volts were applied at a second gate in the middle section.
JAIS stipulates that the voltage used for the stunning method must be below 10 volts.
Muhammad said the excessive voltage allegedly caused chickens to die before they could be slaughtered according to Islamic requirements.
"This is a matter of grave concern as the slaughtering method is one of the key elements in determining the halal status of a chicken product," he told a press conference after inspecting the plant on Sunday (Nov 1).
He said the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) had previously issued several notices and reminders to the plant, which had been operating for more than 10 years, to comply with prescribed procedures.
However, the plant had allegedly continued to fall short of the requirements.
Muhammad said the live chickens were sourced from Sungai Sepat, Sungai Pelek and Sepang before being processed at the plant.
The processed chickens were then believed to have been distributed to eateries, grocery shops and other business premises in Damansara, Bangi, Puchong, Cheras, Putra Perdana and Putrajaya.
"Based on the machine's capacity, the premises can process more than 40,000 chickens a day. However, the actual number processed is still under investigation.
"We are also identifying the entire supply and distribution network, including premises receiving chicken supplies from the plant," he said.
More than 6.5 tonnes of raw chicken worth RM85,400 were seized during the integrated operation over suspicions that they had been processed in breach of Islamic slaughtering requirements and halal certification standards.
The case is being investigated under Sections 3(1)(a) and 4(1) of the Trade Descriptions (Definition of Halal) Order 2011, as well as Section 38(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974. — Bernama
