Appointment of Executive Director of Mosque-Madrasah-Wakaf Shared Services under Police and CPIB Investigation for Alleged Halal Certification Mismanagement
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap’s inquiry into whether the appointment of the Executive Director of Mosque-Madrasah-Wakaf Shared Services was a promotion despite investigations into halal certification mismanagement. Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli B M M clarified that the deployment was part of a staff rotation framework and was not a promotion. He stated that although internal investigations found MUIS's processes sound and impartial, the matter was referred to the Corrupt Practices Investigations Bureau and police for transparency. This referral was made despite no evidence of improper conduct being found, with the internal review findings also being reviewed by MCCY. Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli B M M concluded that MUIS will fully assist with the ongoing investigations.
Transcript
32 Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) whether the appointment of Executive Director of Mosque-Madrasah-Wakaf Shared Services is a promotion when the officer is a former Assistant Director in the Halal Department of MUIS and is currently under investigation by the police and CPIB for alleged halal certification mismanagement; and (b) whether MUIS will present the outcome of its independent review findings on the alleged mismanagement of halal certification to Parliament.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: In 2020, 23% of MUIS' workforce was rotated, deployed and posted within and outside of MUIS. This is part of MUIS's career development framework that supports MUIS' organisational needs while giving officers the opportunity to further develop their skills and knowledge.
The deployment of a former Assistant Director in the Halal department to the Mosque Madrasah Wakaf Shared Services (MMWSS) was one of these overall staff movements in 2020. This officer was not promoted when he took on the appointment at MMWSS.
On 15 December 2020, MUIS issued a media statement to inform the public that it had completed internal investigations into the allegations made against MUIS' recognition process for Foreign Halal Certifying Bodies (FHCBs). The investigations found that MUIS' processes are sound and the recognition and delisting of FHCBs have been carried out by its officers in a fair and impartial manner. These findings were also reviewed by MCCY.
In the interest of accountability and transparency, MUIS subsequently referred the matter to the Corrupt Practices Investigations Bureau (CPIB) and Police for further investigations, even though MUIS found no evidence to support the allegations of improper conduct or abuse of power by its officer in handling the FHCB cases. MUIS will fully assist in CPIB and Police investigations on this matter.