MEAT CARTELS AND THEIR MANIPULATION OF HALAL CERTIFICATION IN MALAYSIA

Muhammad Asyraf Bin Abdul Halim; Muhamad Sayuti Hassan; Hasani Mohd Ali; Mohd Zamre Mohd Zahir; Murjiyanto R

doi:10.31436/iiumlj.v31iS1.879

Authors

Muhammad Asyraf Bin Abdul Halim
Muhamad Sayuti Hassan
Hasani Mohd Ali
Mohd Zamre Mohd Zahir
Murjiyanto R

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v31iS1.879

Keywords:

Cartel, Halal Crime, Trade Descriptions Act 2011, Law Enforcement, Corporate Liability

Abstract

A cartel is an agreement between several individuals or companies and others to engage in a scheme for the purpose of maintaining the business status quo by inter alia regulating and controlling prices and marketing territories. This is usually done with the aim of curbing competition and maximising profit, especially in the food supply chain. Qualitative research methods were used to investigate meat cartels falsifying halal certifications. Legal provisions, case law, journals, and articles were examined as sources of information and analysed to gather information related to the research topic. Presently, the perpetrators can be charged under Trade Descriptions Act 2011 and the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Halal Marking) Order 2011. There are more than 20 Acts that relate to halal standards which could be enforced under the law to ensure heavier punishments are meted out on the ‘food criminal’. The article also looks at the extent of the issue of corporate liability of companies that can be imposed on individuals involved with halal criminal offenses based on legislations other than the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 and the Trade Descriptions Order (Halal Certification and Marking) 2011. Hence the objectives of this article are to analyse the issue of meat cartels in Malaysia and to study the laws related to halal matters in terms of corporate liability within the provisions of the law. It is suggested that there is a need for a legal improvement relating to company liability in criminal cases relating to halal meat in Malaysia.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

A. Aziz, Shamrahayu. “Islamic Criminal Law in the Malaysian Federal Structure: A Constitutional Perspective,” IIUM Law Journal 15, no. 1 (2012): 101-120, https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v15i1.62.

Amin, Naemah. “Consumer Redress Mechanisms in Malaysia: Prospects and Challenges,” IIUM Law Journal 15, no. 2 (2012): 231-252, https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v15i2.70.

Asal, Rokshana Shirin. “Illegal Labeling and the Abuse of Halal Certificate: Case Study of Malaysia,” Jurnal Syariah 27, no. 2 (2019): 367-388.

Basyir, Mohamed. Meat cartel: Proxy companies conduit for operations, The Straits Times, 21.12.2020 at https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/12/651043/meat-cartel-proxy-companies-conduit-operations (Visited 07.08.2023)

“Cartel”, Cambridge Dictionary, laste accessed May 20, 2023, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/cartel.

Che Mohd Zaina, Che Rosmawati. “Jurisdiction and Prosecution of Halal Related Matters in Malaysia: Challenges and Prospects,” Global Conference on Business & Social Science-2014, GCBSS-2014, 15th & 16th December, Kuala Lumpur.

Everstine, Karen., Spink, John. and Kennedy, Shaun. “Economically Motivated Adulteration (EMA) of Food: Common Characteristics of EMA Incidents,” Journal of Food Protection 76. no. 4 (2013): 723-735.

Four remanded in Malaysia's fake halal meat scandal as corruption probe gets under way, The Straits Times, 04.01.2021 at https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/four-remanded-in-malaysias-fake-halal-meat-scandal-as-probe-into-corruption-begins (visited 07 08 2023)

Hassan, Zulkifli. “Undang-undang Produk Halal di Malaysia: Isu Penguatkuasaan dan Pendakwaan,” Konvensyen Kebangsaan Undang-undang: Isu Penguatkuasaan dan Pendakwaan, August 11-12, 2007, 1-21.

Hossain, Mohammad Shahadat. “Consumption of Stem Cell Meat: An Islamic Perspective,” IIUM Law Journal 27, no. 1 (2019): 233–257, https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v27i1.384.

JAKIM’s Halal Malaysia Official Portal at htttps://www.halal.gov.my/v4/index.php?data=bW9kdWxlcy9uZXdzOzs7Ow==&utama=panduan&ids=gp1 (visited 07.08.2023)

Kotler, Philip and Armstrong Gray. Principle of Marketing, 4th Edition (Harlow, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2012).

Md Ariffin, Mohd Farhan. “Halal Food Crime in Malaysia: An Analysis on Illegal Meat Cartel Issues,” Journal of Contemporary Issues in Business and Government 27, no. 2 (2021): 1407-1412, http://dx.doi.org/10.47750/cibg.2021.27.02.152. See, Four remanded in Malaysia's fake halal meat scandal as corruption probe gets under way, The Straits Times, 04.01.2021 at https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/four-remanded-in-malaysias-fake-halal-meat-scandal-as-probe-into-corruption-begins (visited 07 08 2023)

Mohd Rosli, Syajaratulhuda. “10 Kontena Daging Kerbau dari India Dirampas,” Sinar Harian, November 18, 2019, https://m.sinarharian.com.my/mobile-article?articleid=54091.

Mohd Zahir, Mohd Zamre. ed., Isu Semasa dalam Undang-undang Perubatan dan Kesihatan di Malaysia (Bangi: Penerbit UKM, 2021).

Mokhtar, Khairil Azmin. “Health and Human Rights Within the Context of International Human Rights Laws and the Malaysian Constitution,” IIUM Law Journal 29, no. 1 (2021): 103-127, https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v29i1.536. See also Mohd Zamre Mohd Zahir et al, “Prospect and Legal Challenges of Medical Tourism in Relation to the Advance Medical Directive (AMD) in Malaysia,” Pertanika Journal Social Sciences and Humanities 29, no. S2 (2021): 17-28.

Naimat, Nasihah. “Hak dan Perlindungan Pengguna dalam Produk Halal,” Jurnal Pengguna Malaysia (2017): 54-68.

NHS Inform. Food Poisoning. (2023). https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and- poisoning/food- poisoning#:~:text=Food%20poisoning%20is%20an%20illness,common%20cause%20of%20food%20poisoning

Noh, Mohamed Farid. “Kartel daging: Pengarah, pengurus dan syarikat didakwa bekal daging tak halal,” Berita Harian, February 9, 2021, https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2021/02/784580/kartel-daging-pengarah- pengurus-dan-syarikat-didakwa-bekal-daging-tak.

Rahman, Aspalella A., Ismail, Che Thalbi and Abdullah, Nor Anita. “Regulating Halal Food Consumption: Malaysian Scenario,” International Journal of Law, Government and Communication 3, no. 13 (2018): 313-321.

Ramli, Mohd Anuar. and Abd Razak, Muhamad Afiq. “The Emergence of Halal-Related Food Crimes in the Era of Industry 4.0,” Al Qanatir International Journal for Islamic Studies 24, no. 2 (2021): 45-50.

Salahudin, Afiqah. “Issues in Halal Meat Product and Authentication Technology from Islamic Perspectives,” International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 7, no. 12 (2017): 1305-1315.

Soraji, Azis Jakfar., Awang, Mohd Daud and Mohd Yusoff, Ahmad Nasir. “Gaps in the Legislation Halal In Malaysia: A Study of Literature,” IJASOS- International E-Journal of Advances in Social Sciences III, no. 7 (2017): 175-182.

Suhaini, Nurul Amanina. “Kontena Daging Kambing Campur Babi Dirampas,” Berita Harian, July 17, 2017, https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2017/07/303117/4-kontena-daging-kambing-campur-babi- dirampas.

Susila, Muh Endriyo. “Criminal Prosecution of Doctors in Indonesia: Issues and Problems,” IIUM Law Journal 23, no. 3 (2015), https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v23i3.195.

Wahab, Harlida Abdul and Azhar, Alias. “Halalan Tayyiban dalam Kerangka Perundangan Malaysia,” KANUN 1 (2014):103-120.

Zakaria, Zalina and Ismail, Siti Zubaidah. “Perkembangan Pengaturan Halal Menerusi Akta Perihal Dagangan 2011 di Malaysia,” Jurnal Syariah 23, no. 2 (2015): 189-216.

Zaman, Liziana Kamarul and Setapa, Mariam. Undang-undang Produk Halal di Malaysia: Akta Perihal Dagangan 2011 (2014).