| Abdul Hakiim Yakof |
HALAL chicken meat products make up a significant portion of the diet of the Muslim population in Brunei Darussalam. Because of this, Halal-certified slaughter centres are extremely important.
One such slaughter centre is Jamahat Haji Liman Abattoir, located at the Lampaki Farming Development Site in Kampong Mulaut. The facility and its output are constantly under the watchful eyes of the Agriculture and Agrifood Department and Halal Food Control Division.
The facility’s owner, Haji Jamahat bin Haji Liman, told the Bulletin that he initially started out in the chicken breeding business. He soon noticed a problem shortly after commencing his business – there was a shortage of Halal slaughter centres.
He explained that the number of his chickens continued to grow but there were not enough halal abattoirs to handle this increasing load; many of his chickens ended up dying in captivity as a result.
“So I, together with other breeders, decided to form an association called Penternak Ayam SME Melayu Islam Brunei, so that we could solve the problem of insufficient slaughterhouses and lack of storage facilities for our slaughtered chickens,” said Haji Jamahat.
Haji Jamahat bin Haji Liman during an interview
Chicken feet iced to ensure safe temperature and freshness
Workers inspecting the line. – PHOTOS: ABDUL HAKIIM YAKOF
“After I brought this matter up to the Agriculture and Agrifood Department, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) was supportive of us, and we were able to assist small breeders as well as non-Muslim breeders who do not have their own halal slaughter centre by setting up our own,” he added.
Jamahat Haji Liman Abattoir, built and funded with the help of an SME loan amounting to $4.25 million in addition to Haji Jamahat’s own funds, officially began operations on January 28, 2013.
Haji Jamahat shared that the current machinery used at the slaughter centre is able to handle 2,500 to 3,000 chickens an hour, and due to the centre’s size, machines capable of processing 6,000 chickens per hour can be accommodated and housed within it, if and when required.
He explained, “60 per cent of what we do is assisting the public, while the remaining 40 per cent we focus on our business. We offer the cheapest prices – small breeders enjoy lower prices from us; this encourages them to keep their business alive, which is good.
“Our vision and mission is to encourage breeders that have closed down due to the lack of slaughter centres in the past to take up breeding again and practise integrated farming. Our company can supply them with chicken feed and chicks; in return, they can help us meet the constant demand for halal chicken products from consumers and retailers.”
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