It’s time for a full Royal Commission into JAKIM
Misinformation, shenanigans, and all-out lies
Director General of JAKIM Hakimah Mohd Yusof
Many things have occurred over the last couple of days in regards to the ongoing halal scandal, now reported widely each day in the local press. Sadly, it appears that we are not getting closer to rectifying halal protocol breaches and embedded corruption within JAKIM, but getting further away.
The power struggle within JAKIM is continuing, while “fake news’ and disinformation is being disseminated to confuse Malaysians over the truth of these allegations. JAKIM has already been caught misleading the public.
The rest of this article will cover some of the latest developments:
A joint press conference by the president Faizan Mohd Nor of the Pertubuhan Kemasyarakatan Rakyat (PEKEMAS) and Nadzim Johan of the Persatuan Pengunna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) once again took place on 18th May. Audio recordings and video clips were released to the media disclosing evidence of the alleged mastermind behind the violations of halal protocols and alleged acts of corruption.
The recording is believed to involve officers from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and individuals known as Mohamed Adil Rahman as well as the Supreme Islamic Council of Halal Meat in Australia Inc. ( SICHMA ).
Based on the details of the recording, the speaker believed to be Mohamed Adil Rahman admitted that he was responsible as the mastermind in decertifying several foreign halal certification agencies from Jakim.
Quoting Utusan Malaysia the transcription of some of the conversation was as follows:
“Anytime you’re welcome. In this embassy, people sh** in their pants when they want to come. Everybody ..ICCV. Moktha. When I go there, they promise me. Brother this is two weeks after Ramadan. They’ re gone. But after two week, they were delisted. Everybody is how come Adil Rahman can say oh this one delisted oh this one delisted they don’t know who did it.
(Any time you are welcome. At this embassy, many are scared when they want to come. Everyone ICCV. Moktha. When I go there, they promise me. Brother two weeks after Ramadan, they are gone. "After two weeks, they were delisted. Everyone knows why Adil Rahman can say ' oh this is delisted, oh this is delisted,' they don't know who did it," according to the recording.“
A number of other statutory declaration were offered as additional evidence concerning cruelty to the animals at the Thomas Foods International Abattoir.
Whistle blower “Abdullah” the “Hooded Man”
In addition, the whistle blower of the Thomas Foods International (TFI) scandal known as “Abdullah”, and the “Hooded Man” in the local Malaysian media gave a statement. “Abdullah” stated that
“(from) 1st of April the news had come out (see story below). Then On the 13th of May JAKIM personal came to the halal office at the abattoir for the first time.”
Abdullah went on to say:
“On the 17th of May JAKIM made a press release stating that they are not able to get into contact with me, I am ready to meet and speak to the real JAKIM personal especially Sister Hakimah to give the information that I have if she is willing to at any time.”
Faizan Nor called for JAKIM’s foreign halal certifying body allegedly involved in the breaches of halal protocols, the Supreme Islamic Council for Halal Meats in Australia (SICHMA) to be immediately suspended by JAKIM.
Misinformation
In what appears to be deliberate misinformation carried in Astro Awani, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs Idris Ahmad was reported to claim that JAKIM had not been able to contact “Abdullah”, now also known as the hooded man.
According to Astro Awani, the minister said “Until today, we want to contact those who made (the complaint) to come forward. Yesterday, I contacted the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) to provide a number and contact him so that this individual can contact Jakim to tell us in detail and transparently for us to take action, "he said after attending the YaPEIM Digital Application Launch Ceremony. (Yes) in Putrajaya this morning.”
The Director General of JAKIM Hakimah Mohd Yusof said that on 28th April that together with the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water, and Environment (DAWE), a joint investigation was being conducted.
However, on 21st April the writer offered to assist in arranging a meeting with the whistle blower, which was rejected by the Assistant Secretary of DAWE (see letter below).
Abdullah, made it very clear at the press conference held on 18th May that he was more than willing to meet with any official JAKIM officers. He also said that over the last week, there were a number of calls made to his phone, where the callers would not identify themselves.
This was concerning to his own personal safety, given the threats he has been receiving.
Urgent recall of JAKIM Halal Attaché in Canberra
JAKIM just announced the appointment of a new Halal Attaché at the Malaysian Canberra High Commission, after recalling the previous attaché Iszam Bin Padil, before his tour of duty was completed. Sources within JAKIM informed the writer that senior management was not happy with the former attaché claiming he had visited the Thomas Foods International plant, when he hadn’t done so. It must also be remembered here, that this sudden change of senior officer is being undertaken supposedly midway through the joint JAKIM-DAWE investigation.
The former attaché has been replaced with Muhammad Naim Mohd Aziz, who is said to be a close ally of Sirajuddin, exposed in the press conference.
Meanwhile, the person operationally responsible for halal protocols supervised by SICHMA Ahmad Al Zubi, has not been approached or interviewed by JAKIM or DAWE.
Need for a Royal Commission
With lives being threatened to prevent whistle blowers making further allegations and senior Malaysian diplomatic officials being removed during an investigation, its time to call for a Royal Commission to investigate any allegations that couple potentially harm Halal integrity. Its important that halal certification be clean and ethical.
JAKIM’s lack of transparency and evidence tabled requires such a high-level investigation as a Royal Commission. For each day, the government refuses to do the nation’s halal reputation will continue to be tarnished by the illegal acts of a small group of rogue officers collaborating with gangsters from the meat industry.
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