Illegal meat import: Shun non-halal outlets

Posted on June 15, 2011, Wednesday

INTERESTING: Daud (second left) and others reacting to a point raised during the dialogue session of the ‘Halal Livestock Product 2011’ dialogue at the Islamic Information Centre yesterday.

KUCHING: Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman has called on Muslims to boycott eateries not certified halal by the Sarawak Islamic Affairs Department (Jais).

This he said was one of the means to curb illegal import of raw meat into the state which had cost the state government about RM216 million in losses.

Speaking at the ‘Halal Livestock Product 2011’ dialogue at the Islamic Information Centre yesterday, Daud disclosed that the illegal import made up almost 30 per cent of the total stock in the state. “The volume of chicken wings in Sarawak is above the volume produced by legal vendors. These excess numbers are illegally imported meat that goes under the noses of the state Veterinary Department as well as the state Customs,” said Daud, naming one of the popular meat products imported illegally into the state.

Daud, who is also Tupong assemblyman, said boycotting eateries without halal certification would lead to the eradication of illegal smuggling of raw meat into the state. He also said that it would not be a surprise if the losses go beyond the RM216 million mark. “When an outlet has a halal certification, the meat that they cook is from a verified source and definitely not smuggled in,” he added.

Daud also assured that Jais had carried out periodic spot checks on eateries and slaughter houses to ensure that they follow the halal certification requirements. He also said that without halal certification end users would not know the source of the meat, putting into question the meat’s hygiene, quality and halal verification.

On the unethical importers who are profit-driven, Daud said it was hard for the authorities to nab and control them due to the vastness of the state with an open access to the sea from almost every major area.

He also stressed that among the drawbacks for the authorities to detect illegal smuggling was the long boundary line between Sarawak and its neighbouring country. Daud also said if found guilty of smuggling meat, offenders could be charged and fined not more than RM50,000 or sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

According to him, it is actually easy for eateries to obtain halal certification if they abide by the requirements regardless of whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. He also hoped that the dialogue organised by Jais in collaboration with the Veterinary Department, Agriculture Department and the Sarawak Livestock Association would be a key event to create awareness on how to eradicate illegal smuggling of meat into the state.

Attended by more than fifty participants, the dialogue touched on four working papers on Halal Certification, Laws and Regulations for Animal and Fish Quarantine Services, Sarawak Poultry Industry: Present Challenge and Future Prospects and Preparation of Halal Food.

Friday April 1, 2011

Pagoh set to be modern breeding ground for cattle and livestock

By HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

MUAR: Pagoh is set to become a major cattle and chicken breeding centre by adopting high-technologies in a move to further boost the nation’s food production. A 200ha site located at Ulu Bakri in the Jorak constituency has been developed and sub-divided among 11 cattle and chicken breeders to expedite the project.

Muar Veterinary Department officer Zamari Mohd Amin said the area where villagers previously released their livestock for grazing several years ago, is now a modern feedlot and breeding premise.

First-hand view: Shahruddin (left) looking at heatlthy cows being bred by Abdul Rahman Juki (right)in a feedlot premise in Ulu Bakri.

Besides cattle, a modern chicken breeding centre with six breeder blocks using high-technological concept and one block for hatchery is also part of the project.The chicken breeding venture, undertaken by Jahasrat Poultry Processing Sdn Bhd from Selangor, aims at hatching and breeding the Kop chicken.

“The company will sell the chickens to local breeders who supply them to KFC outlets in the country,” he said, during a certificate and farm machine presentation to three cattle breeders here. Zamari said Ulu Bakri, along with Kampung Paya Bakul near Pagoh, Kampung Tui near Bukit Kepong and Tulang Gajah near Lenga has been earmarked as cattle breeding areas.

He said these four areas, with land mass totalling more than 850ha, had started to produce goats and cows for breeding as well as slaughtering to meet the nation’s demand for meat.

In appreciation: Shahruddin (right) giving certificates to some of the cattle breeders.

Commenting on the project, Jorak assemblyman Datuk Dr Shahruddin Mohd Salleh said cattle breeding in the four areas were part of the government’s National Feedlot Centre (NFC) project.

He said project was launched several years ago to increase food production in the country which depended most of its meat supply from overseas.

Some 90% of beef and 98% of dairy products, added Dr Sharuddin, were imported from other country, including India and Australia, and the Government wanted to reduce import. He said the cattle and chicken breeding ventures were regarded as high-impact projects to produce food for the country and urged the breeders to be committed in their undertaking.

Dr Shahruddin added that Ulu Bakri, located about three kilometres from Bukit Naning, was not a well-known cattle and chicken producing area until now. The assemblyman also praised the veterinary Department for developing Ulu Bakri, which was once a wasteland, into a modern and productive livestock breeding centre.

“If we can restructure villages where all residents live in one area and join their plots to form big cattle farms or plantations, we can generate greater income for the villagers. “At present many live on small plots with several fruit trees around the house and a few goats or cows and as such they dont make much,” he added.

Kids get to know more about livestock at themed carnival in Subang Jaya

By JASTIN AHMAD TARMIZI
jastin@thestar.com.my

IN CONJUNCTION with the Alltech Draw My Farm Competition award ceremony, Alltech Malaysia hosted a farm-themed carnival in 3C Complex, Subang Jaya recently.

The aim of the programme was to educate the public on the facts and myths surrounding animal production and encourage the young generation to join the livestock and feed industry when they grow up.

The carnival, which was open to the public, attracted over 200 children.

Reptilian lure: Two-year-old Yong Jia Ying looking at a Brazilian green iguana at the farm.

The event featured activities for families namely a petting and farm animal zoo, careers in agriculture, amazing games, happy little farmer photo station and magic performance as well as a drawing gallery containing more than 160 pieces of artwork from the children.

There was a food sampling corner where Zenxin Agriculture and 5 Star Chicken from CP Group were invited to set up booths for the people to sample their food.

Which came first?: Eleven-year-old Nicholas Paang at the Happy Little Farmer Photo Station posing with a chicken and an egg.
 

FLFAM vice-chairman Lee Lee Kong said the event was an excellent way to expose farm life to children at a young age while changing the misconception some might have about the industry.

“It is good to expose these children to the livestock industry as the young generation tend to perceive the livestock industry as being dirty and tiring. As a result, our profession suffers a shortage of young blood,” he said.

“The livestock industry is not only limited to farmers, but also includes veterinarians, animal nutritionists, experts in processing and marketing sectors,” he added.

Alltech Malaysia general manager Dr Richard Chong said it was fantastic to see such a good response from the public for the event.

Program 1AZAM For Livestock

What do you do with only RM10,000 to kick start a livestock project

Department Of Veterinary Services Malaysia

Vision


A competent veterinary authority serving the animal industry for the sake of human welfare


Mission

Provide quality veterinary services as an assurance for public health and sustainable livestock industry for the sake of human welfare



Objective

Strengthen and maintain animal health status conducive to the animal industry

Public health assurance through the control of zoonotic diseases and wholesome food production from animal based products

Encourage sustainable livestock production and value added industry

Explore, develop and encourage the use of technology and optimum use of sources in animal based industry

Promote animal welfare practices in all aspect of rearing and production system

To know more above DVS please log on to http://www.dvs.gov.my/

Ostrich Farming In Sarawak

This is one of the Ostrich Farm in Malaysia. Population of more than 300 heads of Ostrich.

The 5 hectare Sibu Ostrich Farm, located at Teku Road, is one the first ostrich farm in Sarawak .

‘Empurau’ business lucrative, says Jabu

by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith January 14, 2010, Thursday

Minister hopes to attract investors; promises help to get them going

TARAT: Current ‘empurau’ fish production cannot even meet local demand but this could change if plans to attract more entrepreneurs into the breeding business over the short term prove successful.Modernisation of Agriculture Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, who was on a working visit to the Indigenous Fisheries Research and Production Centre here yesterday, said while many know that the ‘empurau’ fetches a “gold price”, few realise that it can actually be bred in their backyard.

Jabu, who is deputy chief minister, said: “Today ‘empurau’ sells up to RM400 per kg while a kilogramme dish served at any top-notched restaurant could well go with a RM1,000 tag.
“That should serve as an eye-opener to those with the right attitude to venture into ‘empurau’ rearing. We will help.

“At the moment, we have adopted one farmer from Kota Samarahan and he mostly caters for restaurants. He also exports live fish to West Malaysia and based on the sales report, clearly the potential of the industry is very good.

“Now, the plan is to develop and to attract entrepreneurs with the expertise in fish rearing projects. We can’t cater for the overseas market as we can’t even fulfil the local demand. Our main concern now is to produce enough quantity and quality ‘empurau’ for the domestic market.
“I believe we can do that.”

He disclosed that his ministry had written a formal letter of recommendation to the State Secretary Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani proposing that the project be further developed and expanded.

Jabu said Morshidi had held a comprehensive meeting with the State Planning Unit Director Datu Ismawi Ismuni and that Morshidi had also briefed the cabinet on the proposal that the development of the industry be incorporated under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
He said the ministry would also cooperate with all relevant departments and ministries with a view to utilising the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy’s (SCORE) halal hub.
On the facilities in Tarat, Jabu said: “The rearing project is currently in the trial stages. We are still studying the system to identify whether the tank or the open river (Tagang) system would produce better results.”

According to him, with good management, the fish could grow up to 1.5kg per year.
“The most important aspects are water breeding quality, types of feed and regular feeding.
“I plead with the management to extend their research and development where latest technology will be introduced. They must improve the water circulation system and ensure that there will not be any shortage of water especially during the dry season.

“We will adopt better technology to make sure the re-circulated water is always treated and remain clean. In aquaculture, the number one enemy is pollution,” Jabu said.
Another technology that Jabu hoped could be introduced is the ozone and ionisation of the water to kill the bacteria, which can stunt the growth of the fish.

Jabu also stated that his ministry had set a two-year plan to utilise the available land at the agriculture station to increase storage tank volume and introduce new technology.
“That is why we must increase our efficiency and improve the breeding infrastructure. With a bigger capacity, the centre could produce twice as much. Once we have improved in this sense, we will invite ministers from other ministries to visit as an eye-opener. They will then see the investment needed to realise the potential of ‘empurau’ breeding business,” Jabu said.
At the moment, there are 125 ‘empurau’ fish at the station, all purely for breeding purposes.
According to Jabu, his ministry is interested in increasing the number of breeders and looking at ready investors in Ulu Limbang, Ulu Baram, Ulu Kapit, Ulu Baleh, Ulu Katibas and probably in Batang Ai where the different species of ‘empurau’ exist.

“In the villagers, we will assist and encourage these breeders by teaching them the ‘tagang’ System. Our target is to produce in very large numbers. We would also make sure that the species at the river will not be affected as we will also reseed and distribute the brood stock properly to replenish the ones harvested at the river,” Jabu added.

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