BANGI – The profession of a slaughterer is increasingly gaining recognition, especially within the halal industry domestically and internationally.
Malaysian Syariah Slaughterers Association (PPSM) president Abd Halim Zakaria emphasised that the rising demand for skilled slaughterers goes hand in hand with the rapid expansion of the global halal market.
"Today, many countries, including non-Muslim ones, regard the halal industry as an essential sector.
"Furthermore, the Islamic method of slaughtering animals is widely regarded as the best in the world. As a result, halal slaughterers are in high demand locally and abroad," he said at the Bandar Seri Putra Mosque.
He added that countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan took the halal industry seriously and were actively seeking more trained slaughterers.
"They recognise that halal slaughtering delivers superior meat quality compared to other methods.
"According to them, halal meat lasts longer and is free from unpleasant odours because most of the blood is drained during the Islamic slaughter process," he said.
For instance, he said this year, three graduates from PPSM’s certified Shariah slaughter course have moved to Ireland to work as slaughterers, while many others continued to serve the local market.
Abd Halim pointed out that most professional slaughterers working overseas were under 35 years old and earned between RM30,000 and RM50,000 per month.
He was optimistic about the profession’s future prospects.
"Some people still think of slaughterers as seasonal workers, especially during Hari Raya Aidiladha.
"But in reality, that’s not true. Muslims around the world eat halal chicken and meat every day, so there’s a constant need for skilled slaughterers," he said.
He also emphasised that slaughterers must be well-versed not only in Syariah-compliant techniques but also in the science behind animal slaughter and the industry’s standard operating procedures.
Abd Halim, who has been certified by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department since 2007 and has 15 years’ experience working in Cambodia, actively conducts courses and practical training for aspiring slaughterers.
"We hope PPSM’s efforts in organising Shariah-compliant slaughter courses will produce more professional slaughterers to meet market needs both locally and internationally," he said.