SHAH ALAM: The chicken slaughterhouse in Puchong, raided last Friday over suspected non-compliance with Islamic requirements, is believed to be operated by more than one company or entity.
Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said the information was obtained from individuals detained over the case.
He said Jais was seeking further information from the district and land office to establish the actual owner of the premises and the companies registered at the address.
"As such, Jais is not yet in a position to disclose the individuals or companies involved. We will provide the information once it has been verified," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Nov 3).
He said 12 individuals, believed to be workers from Bangladesh and Pakistan, were found slaughtering chickens in a manner that did not comply with Islamic requirements during the raid on Oct 30.
"The slaughtering was carried out after the chickens had died during the electrical water-stunning process, which involved voltages exceeding permitted levels.
"The premises also had no signboard or other information identifying the business or company operating there," he said.
Mohd Shahzihan also confirmed that Jais had no records of any application for halal certification by the premises, which did not hold Malaysia halal certification.
Jais records also showed that the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) had never issued slaughterer accreditation for the slaughtering activities carried out there, he said.
The case is being investigated under Paragraph 4(1) of the Trade Descriptions (Definition of Halal) Order 2011 and Section 121F of the Selangor Islamic Religious Administration Enactment 2003.
Jais also urged food caterers, restaurant operators and the Muslim community to source chicken from suppliers with valid halal certification and slaughtering accreditation in accordance with the law. – Bernama
