MARCH-APRIL . 2023 | @ Halal
Column
19 wrongdoings in the food industry , ranging from animal rights violations to unsafe food practices .
In fact , previous incidents demonstrated the power of whistleblowing in promoting animal welfare and food safety practices towards a greater sense of corporate responsibility .
In 2016 , an employee secretly filmed animal mistreatment inside an abattoir in Australia , and the footage was sent to an animal rights organisation . The company was penalised , and four employees were fired after the footage was forwarded to the regulatory body .
Whistleblowing also partly shaped the course of the national food law . This was demonstrated by the contaminated peanut butter case in the United States that killed nine people in late 2008 and early 2009 .
The case was brought to light by a whistleblower , a former manager who worked for the Peanut Corporation of America ( PCA ). This whistleblower exposed a culture of deception
and food safety negligence at the PCA , leading to a massive nationwide product recall . This episode eventually led to the passage of the Food Safety Modernisation Act in 2011 .
Closer to home is a halal food-specific case , uncovered via an anonymous report by a whistleblower to the local media - the 2020 illegal meat cartel incident . The 2020 incident exposed meat smuggling from several countries , including China , Ukraine , Brazil and Argentina to Malaysia .
Falsified documentation such as customs forms , import permits , halal certificates and payment receipts were used to avoid detection by the authorities . The disclosure of halal meat crime incidents reveals the loopholes in our current regulations and import protocols , highlighting the role of whistleblowers in uncovering fraudulent activities .
WHISTLEBLOWING IS NOT EASY
Employees are typically the first to detect misconduct or fraud in the workplace . Standing up for what is correct comes with risks . Employees who disclose misconduct or fraud in the workplace may face hostility , threats and discrimination .
Therefore , establishing laws and policies is necessary to encourage individuals to blow the whistle while protecting them from all sorts of retaliation . The government has enacted several laws and regulations in Malaysia to encourage whistleblowing , including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission ( MACC ) Act , the Services Act 2007 , and the Witness Protection Act 2008 .
However , it is unclear if halal industry players are familiar with whistleblowing and the protection that exists for them . More efforts should be made to ensure that the practice and protection available are made known to all relevant halal players , including employees , to create a culture of integrity and accountability — the whistleblowing culture .
WHISTLEBLOWING AS PART OF HALAL CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
How can the halal food industry foster a culture of whistleblowing ? Having a whistleblowing policy and training is an excellent place to start when it comes to encouraging employees to come forward and express their concerns .
A whistleblower policy is a document that outlines the types of misconduct that can be reported , the whistleblower procedure and the protection for whistleblowers .
With the establishment of a whistleblower policy , the employees are exposed to the proper procedure for reporting any misconduct and the forms of protection that will be granted to a whistleblower .
In addition , regular whistleblowing training will keep employees up to date on any wrongdoing and fraud issues in the halal industry . This could also help them become acquainted with the whistleblowing procedures .
Coercive pressures could be applied to encourage a halal food company to create a whistleblowing system . Coercive pressures refer to intense pressures imposed by stakeholders such as government organisations , of which strict rules and regulations , sanctions and punishments are put in place .
Perhaps , whistleblowing policies ( and procedures ) could be established as part of the halal certification requirements . This way , companies will have to set up the whistleblowing system before they can apply for or renew the certification .
Conforming to these coercive pressures will allow companies to ensure that any unethical behaviour or violations of HALA- Lan TOYYIBan principles are reported and addressed quickly .
The system will provide a secure environment for employees to raise any issues and voice their concerns without fear of reprisal . The system will also protect them from legal and financial penalties .
WHISTLEBLOWING TO SAFEGUARD THE HALAL MALAYSIA BRAND REPUTATION
Speaking out or blowing the whistle can be intimidating , but it can help to avoid fraud within the halal food industry . As the need for transparency in this sector increases , creating an environment or system that encourages individuals to speak up if they encounter any unsafe , wrongdoing or fraudulent activities is essential .
By standing up for what is right , whistleblowers can help to protect consumer interests as well as build public trust in the halal food industry . This will , in turn , help safeguard the Halal Malaysia brand reputation and , ultimately , halal sanctity and integrity .