Korban MAY NOT be held at Singapore mosques this year

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Singapore's Muslim community should be prepared for the possibility of not having Korban at mosques this year.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, said this in a statement to the media on Tuesday.

The Korban, where livestock is sacrificed, is held on Hari Raya Haji. This year, it falls on October 26.

Mosques here have to meet a new regulatory framework in order to import livestock from Australia for Korban rites this year.

Dr Yaacob's comments come as the Singapore Mosques Korban Committee said Australian authorities have yet to approve the application.

In April and July, 16 mosques were audited for compliance with the new framework.

Dr Yaacob added that the Korban Committee and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) spared no effort in getting mosques to meet these requirements.

But with Korban a month away, and with the Australian livestock exporter still waiting for an official reply from the authorities, Dr Yaacob said the community must be prepared to not perform Korban at mosques, and possibly look into performing this ritual overseas.

Dr Yaacob also said that MUIS, the Korban Committee and even the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) have been working on alternative sources. But he said this has been difficult given Singapore's small market.