The Malaysian Insight

A MEAT supplier at the centre of a halal-certification controversy is taking one of its accusers to court over allegations it was selling “haram” meat.

Lawyer Haaziq Pillay said his client is suing Abdul Zarin Yasin for RM50 million over allegedly defamatory claims he posted on Facebook.

“This suit involves allegations made by Abdul Zarin Yassin in his Facebook post in which the wording appears to suggest that Rahman Sheikh Abdullah, Raihanah Kassim and Raihanah Cold Storage Sdn Bhd are involved with selling meat which is ‘haram’ under Islamic principles,” Haaziq said in a press conference at a Petaling Jaya hotel today.

His client is demanding a formal apology, compensation and a stop to any similar statements. Zarin has eight days to respond to the notice.

Hazziq said Zarin’s post has had a total of 824 comments and 1,900 shares.

Rahman, who co-owns Raihanah Cold Storage, said the comments on the post were very harsh and had caused him to have  sleepless nights.

“I have also received death threats from people on the phone which I have reported at the police station in Taman Perling, Johor,” he said

He said the Islamic Development Department (Jakin) inspected his factory on January 1 and found nothing to bear up the accusation that the company was distributing non-halal meat.

The meat distributor and its husband and wife owners were charged in the Johor Baru Sessions Court on December 30 with using the halal logo without certification by the authorities.

All the accused pleaded not guilty.

The charge against Raihanah Cold Storage was framed under Trade Description (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, which carries a maximum RM200,000 fine and an RM500,000 fine for every second or subsequent offence.

The court allowed the couple bail at RM40,000 with one surety each and set January 19 for case mention. – January 9, 2021.