"This has received approval from the minister of agriculture and other authorities both domestically and in Saudi Arabia," he remarked when met after the Eid al-Adha prayers in the courtyard of the Central Muhammadiyah Office (PP), Menteng, Jakarta, on Monday.
According to Effendy, the meat came from sacrificial animals from Indonesian pilgrims in the 2024 Hajj, whose slaughter was carried out at slaughterhouses in Mecca and the surrounding area.
However, his ministry has not received detailed information regarding the meat's arrival and the total weight from Saudi Arabia.
Effendy ensured that the sacrificial meat would be clinically inspected during packaging, along with maintaining hygiene, before being distributed to the Indonesian people.
For the distribution, the ministry also targets handing over the meat to the poor or underprivileged Islamic boarding school students.
On the other hand, the minister also appealed to the public, especially sacrificial organizing committees across Indonesia, to prioritize animal or meat cleanliness in accordance with Islamic law, starting from the slaughtering of sacrificial animals to their distribution to the community.
"Do not forget to use environmentally friendly meat packaging, such as leaves or tree fronds, and if you use materials that are difficult to decompose, such as plastic, then clean them and do not throw them away," he emphasized.
It is in line with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's (KLHK's) circular about celebrating Eid al-Adha without plastic waste, one of which calls for a ban on plastic bags and for people to use reusable containers.
Through the circular issued on June 13, 2024, the ministry also urged governors, mayors, and district heads to give directions to the sacrificial meat distribution committee to avoid using plastic while distributing the sacrificial meat and to use reusable containers.
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Translator: M. Riezko Bima E, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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