SHAH ALAM - Former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri says the ruling on consuming chicken that has not been slaughtered according to Islamic law depends on the circumstances and an individual's level of knowledge.
He said individuals who were unaware of the matter and believed the chicken had been slaughtered in accordance with syariah law were not sinful for consuming it.
He said the ruling would differ for those who knew the chicken had not been slaughtered according to syariah law but consumed it due to necessity or an emergency recognised under Islamic law.
However, such individuals would not be considered sinful if their actions were justified under those circumstances.
"If a person knows that the chicken was not slaughtered in accordance with halal requirements but deliberately consumes it without a valid reason permitted under Islamic law, the act is forbidden and sinful," he said in a social media post today.
On Oct 30, more than 6.5 tonnes of raw chicken suspected of being processed without complying with Islamic slaughtering and halal certification requirements were seized during a raid.
Twelve Bangladeshi and Pakistani men suspected of being involved in the slaughtering and processing operations were also arrested during the raid in Puchong.