News From : DagangHalal.com (17 Mar 2010)
Bandar Seri Begawan – The feasibility of channelling confiscated goods to better, productive use was the focus raised by Yang Berhormat Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin during yesterday’s afternoon session of the 6th Legislative Council Meeting.
The Legislative Council member raised the question before the floor of the reason why the authorities destroy confiscated goods, specifically non-Halal hoods, such as chicken or alcohol, when he suggested that they could be put to better use.
YB Pehin Dato Goh pointed out: “For non-Muslims, destroying any food and drink is wasteful. If the food is not suitable for us then we must give it to others to benefit,” adding that even in religion, food wastage is condoned.
YB Pehin Dato Goh, a former Customs and Excise Officer, proposed a suggestion, which was to store the confiscated meat products in a freezer to be resold to the non-Muslim community, whilst for confiscated alcohol, he made the suggestion of selling it off to foreign missions in the country, “who already have special quotas to import alcohol”.
The proceeds from the sales of these confiscated goods “can be donated to non-Muslim charities”, the Legislative Council member suggested.
In response, the second Finance Minister, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Hj Awg Abdul Rahman, pointed out that the law had already stipulated that any confiscated goods be destroyed, and that for the time being, the law will continue to be observed, unless “there are further objections”, which, added YB Pehin Dato Hj Abdul Rahman “could then be deliberated upon in due course”.
Written by Waleed PD Mahdini
— Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin