Singapore Islamic authority names team investigating alleged corruption in halal certification process

SINGAPORE - The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said on Wednesday (June 17) that its Deputy Chief Executive, Dr. Albakri Ahmad, will lead a team investigating allegations of questionable halal certification practices.

The move comes after the allegations were published in a media report in Hong Kong-based Asia Sentinel on April 22 that then prompted MUIS to invite members of the public to submit any “conclusive information and evidence” on questionable halal practices.

“MUIS will carefully review the submissions that have been made, as part of the ongoing investigations, and a fuller update will be provided once the investigation process is completed,” said the government statutory body.

MUIS on April 25 refuted the allegations in the media report, saying they were “extremely serious”.

The team leading the investigation will not comprise officers involved in the halal unit or its matters, said MUIS on Wednesday. The team will report directly to the Chief Executive.

An independent review panel to check on the process and findings of the investigation has also been set up. It will be led by MUIS council member and retired audit director from the government’s Auditor-General’s Office, Abdul Hamid Abdullah.

MUIS said the officer named in the media report for showing “favouritism” in the recognition of foreign halal certification bodies, Munir Hussain, is not part of the investigation panel. The religious authority said Hussain is also currently not involved in handling matters related to the recognition of HCBs.

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