And now fast forward this problem has just presented itself.
Question is for how long exactly have they been deceiving us?
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Be wary when buying mutton
THE next time you plan to buy mutton, just be more careful.In view of the rising cost of imported mutton, some unscrupulous butchers are mixing imported Indian buffalo meat in the same package.
Currently, imported mutton retails around RM20 per kilogram.
To keep themselves afloat, butchers are mixing imported Indian buffalo meat with imported mutton from Australia and New Zealand and selling them at RM16 per kilogram to unsuspecting customers.
“You cannot get imported mutton at RM16 per kilo anymore. That was last year. Now our landed price is already around RM17 per kg, so how can most butchers sell at the old price,” said Malay Small Traders Association Jalan Ipoh Branch chairman of the Indian affairs Chandra Bose.
Chandra, who has been operating for over 30 years at the Sentul Pasar Wet Market said he had a hard time convincing his customers that the import price of mutton had gone up and that they would not get them at the old price anymore.
“However, many go to other butchers who still sell at the old price by mixing with buffalo meat just to keep their customers,” said Chandra, adding that many restaurants knowingly buy mutton mixed with buffalo meat, which is retailed around RM10 a kilogram.
Another butcher Sheik Allaudin Abd Rahman who also operates in Sentul Pasar said the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consu-merism Ministry enforcement officers have been alerted on this but no actionhas been taken.
“They told us to keep our prices down without knowing anything about market forces which determine import prices. But we still continue with the new price at the risk of being fined,” he said.
“I have stopped eating mutton ever since the price shot up because I know that’s what restaurants are doing. I know this is happening because some restaurant owners themselves have told me,” said the realty negotiator.
According to importers, the price of mutton has been going up due to demand as well as the weakening ringgit.
Mutton is not a controlled item but during festive seasons the ministry determines the price.
According to ministry officials, under the Price Control Act 1946, the Festive Seasons Price Control Scheme (SKHMP) was launched in 2000 and enforced during the festive seasons.
Violators can be fined up to RM15,000 (individuals) and RM25,000 (corporations) if found guilty.
Hindus consider cows and buffalos sacred animals and consuming beef or buffalo meat is considered sacrilege.
“Some three years ago we reported to the ministry of some butchers selling mutton mixed with beef in Jalan Pasar in Pudu and several of them were hauled to court and fined.
However, he said fine alone was not a deterrent. “They need to be jailed for cheating customers. It is a clear case of cheating and people who do this must be severely punished,” he said.
The Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry has called on butcher associations to weed out unethical members for the sake of livestock industry.
“If consumers stop eating mutton altogether for fear that it is being tainted then this will affect the sale of local mutton too,” said its deputy minister Chua Tee Yong.
He said the associations concerned should keep watch over their members and inform the authorities of malpractices in the industry.
“It is for their own good too because if there is no demand then their livelihood will suffer,” he said.
Chua also reminded consumers to be realistic of the rising prices of beef and mutton, as feed prices have gone up.
On the livestock industry, especially goat and cows, he said it was difficult to beef up the sector due to shortage of land and labour.
“The ministry is finding it hard to beef up the sector due to these two factors and if they overcome this problem then we are quite confident that local meat can be obtained at at lower prices,” he said.
Currently, imported mutton retails around RM20 per kilogram.
To keep themselves afloat, butchers are mixing imported Indian buffalo meat with imported mutton from Australia and New Zealand and selling them at RM16 per kilogram to unsuspecting customers.
“You cannot get imported mutton at RM16 per kilo anymore. That was last year. Now our landed price is already around RM17 per kg, so how can most butchers sell at the old price,” said Malay Small Traders Association Jalan Ipoh Branch chairman of the Indian affairs Chandra Bose.
Chandra: ‘You cannot get imported mutton at RM16 per kilo anymore.’
There are some 4,200 butchers in Kuala Lumpur.Chandra, who has been operating for over 30 years at the Sentul Pasar Wet Market said he had a hard time convincing his customers that the import price of mutton had gone up and that they would not get them at the old price anymore.
“However, many go to other butchers who still sell at the old price by mixing with buffalo meat just to keep their customers,” said Chandra, adding that many restaurants knowingly buy mutton mixed with buffalo meat, which is retailed around RM10 a kilogram.
Another butcher Sheik Allaudin Abd Rahman who also operates in Sentul Pasar said the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consu-merism Ministry enforcement officers have been alerted on this but no actionhas been taken.
“They told us to keep our prices down without knowing anything about market forces which determine import prices. But we still continue with the new price at the risk of being fined,” he said.
Sheik Allaudin: This kind of despicable practice won’t happen even in India.
A social welfare worker with the Young Men’s Christian Association S. Lokan said he was aware that restaurants were knowingly buying mutton mixed with beef or buffalo and it was hard for undiscerning customers to know the difference.“I have stopped eating mutton ever since the price shot up because I know that’s what restaurants are doing. I know this is happening because some restaurant owners themselves have told me,” said the realty negotiator.
According to importers, the price of mutton has been going up due to demand as well as the weakening ringgit.
Mutton is not a controlled item but during festive seasons the ministry determines the price.
According to ministry officials, under the Price Control Act 1946, the Festive Seasons Price Control Scheme (SKHMP) was launched in 2000 and enforced during the festive seasons.
Violators can be fined up to RM15,000 (individuals) and RM25,000 (corporations) if found guilty.
Hindus consider cows and buffalos sacred animals and consuming beef or buffalo meat is considered sacrilege.
Lokan: ‘I have stopped eating mutton because I know many restaurants are mixing mutton with buffalo meat just to keep the prices down.’
Past president of Hindu Sangam Datuk A. Vathilingam, who is aware of the irresponsible acthas called on Hindus to be extra cautions when buying mutton.“Some three years ago we reported to the ministry of some butchers selling mutton mixed with beef in Jalan Pasar in Pudu and several of them were hauled to court and fined.
However, he said fine alone was not a deterrent. “They need to be jailed for cheating customers. It is a clear case of cheating and people who do this must be severely punished,” he said.
The Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry has called on butcher associations to weed out unethical members for the sake of livestock industry.
“If consumers stop eating mutton altogether for fear that it is being tainted then this will affect the sale of local mutton too,” said its deputy minister Chua Tee Yong.
He said the associations concerned should keep watch over their members and inform the authorities of malpractices in the industry.
“It is for their own good too because if there is no demand then their livelihood will suffer,” he said.
Chua also reminded consumers to be realistic of the rising prices of beef and mutton, as feed prices have gone up.
On the livestock industry, especially goat and cows, he said it was difficult to beef up the sector due to shortage of land and labour.
“The ministry is finding it hard to beef up the sector due to these two factors and if they overcome this problem then we are quite confident that local meat can be obtained at at lower prices,” he said.
