SHAH ALAM - Former Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa is known to reform the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) during his administration.
This includes tahfiz schools. However, it takes more than political will to raise the safety standards of these schools.
"Political will helps to address the issue but the public should be more concerned about where they send their children and check if the safety standard is met.
"The society, and also the local authority should have a strong standard of safety and of course, the religious authority as they should initiate efforts for the safety of the children,” he said during an interview for Sinar Daily Politically Frank.
In the past, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye had said it was estimated that over 50% of Islamic educational institutions, including tahfiz schools and dilapidated government schools nationwide, do not comply with fire safety requirements, thus are in need of improvements.
On the controversial illegal meat cartel in 2020, he said he wanted the ‘halal’ certification process to be more transparent.
"The problem with the meat cartel industry is that they hold halal certification," he said.
"During my time, we wanted our halal certificate to be transparent to tackle such issues. Now it could take some time before this issue is addressed,” he added.
On Nov 23, Malay daily Sinar Harian reported that freight businesses in charge of managing imported frozen meat without Jakim's halal certification have been assisted by ‘insiders’ stationed at several ports, and they turned a blind eye to the meat brought in.
A follow-up report from Sinar Harian on Dec 2 revealed that a cartel was discovered during a warehouse search in Senai, Johor, causing investigators to seized 1,500 tonnes of imported frozen beef worth RM30 million.
According to the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS), the cartel were using a warehouse in Senai as a repacking centre, with fake halal logos.