July 2, 2026
 

Malaysia's Penang plans district-level slaughterhouses to modernise livestock processing and halal compliance

The facilities will serve cattle, goats and buffaloes and are intended to standardise veterinary inspection, disease control and syariah-compliant slaughtering practices across the state.

The Penang state government has announced plans to establish slaughterhouses in each of the state's districts, aiming to replace small-scale, localised slaughtering operations with a standardised network of purpose-built facilities meeting public health, halal and environmental requirements.

Datuk Rashidi Zinol, chairman of Penang's Rural Development, Agrotechnology, Food Security and Entrepreneurship Committee, said the proposed facilities will be developed through collaboration between the state government, the Penang Veterinary Services Department, the local government division and the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department. The involvement of religious authorities is intended to ensure closer monitoring of certified slaughterers, slaughtering methods and syariah compliance.

The planned centres will handle cattle, goats and buffaloes and function as integrated support hubs incorporating pre- and post-slaughter veterinary inspections, animal health monitoring, disease control, waste management and food hygiene-compliant processing. All livestock brought to the facilities will undergo veterinary inspection before entering the food supply chain.

Rashidi said stakeholder engagement sessions with livestock farmers, industry players, local authorities and technical agencies would be held to determine suitable locations, capacities and operating models for each district. He added that the initiative is expected to support downstream industries including food processing, frozen products, packaging and halal logistics.

- New Straits Times