KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — Khairul, a videographer, earns a side income by selling home made beef and chicken burgers to a petrol station and a media company once a week.

His burgers have found a steady following since he started selling them seven months ago and he hopes the extra money will help him finance his wedding next year.

Khairul relies on cost-effective meat grinds for the juicy patties, made with buffalo meat from India. At RM16.99 per kg, the meat is cheaper than locally produced beef which retails around RM 21 per kg.

But the imports from India may dry up, if, as promised during the election campaign the newly elected government clamps down on exports, raising production costs for people like Khairul. 

“I’m in a pickle if that happens,” said Khairul, who makes a profit of RM1.90 for every beef burger now sold at RM4.50.

India sells US$3.2 billion (RM10.3 billion) of worth of buffalo meat annually to more than 65 countries, with Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Egypt topping the list.

According to the US Department of Agriculture’s forecasts, India has taken over as the world’s largest beef exporter, Brazil, and Indian exports are expected to account for 20 per cent (1.9 million tonne) of the global supply by the end of the year.

While an economic impact is apparent, the cow is revered as holy by Hindus and slaughter is banned in most of the 35 Indian states and union territories, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan.

It is legal only in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and the north-eastern states.

The cuts imported from India are from less-revered water buffalos but the consumption and sale of beef still sparks intense debates, with Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the forefront.

BJP, which promised to clamp down beef exports and to return the country to its vegetarian tradition should it return to power, triumphed in the recent Indian election,winning 282 of the seats in parliament.

Uttar Pradesh, where BJP trumped regional pioneers and bagged 73 out of 80 state seats, is currently India’s biggest producer of meat.

India’s deputy high commissioner at its mission in Kuala Lumpur told The Malay Mail Online that there has been no notification pertaining to a ban on beef exports, local traders are apprehensive.

“The beef that we supply to the wet markets in the country, 90 per cent of it comes from buffalos slaughtered in India,” said Fatric Sdn Bhd chairman Yap Teong Peng in disbelief, upon learning of the possible policy shift.

Fatric deals with import and distribution of halal frozen meats, and holds a significant dealership in Pasar Borong, the largest wet market in the capital city.

And the bulk of Fatric’s chilled buffalo meat comes from India.

Malaysia’s beef import shot up from 77,000 tonnes in 2012 to more than 85,000 tonnes in 2013, of which 80 per cent comes from India.

Yap, who has been in the business since 1977, said the local demand for buffalo meat — leaner and significantly cheaper than cow meat - has surged as India has steadily complied with halal standards in processing the beef.

“Buffalo cuts range from RM10 to RM20 (per kg), depending on where you get them from, but in most places even the most expensive tenderloin is only RM18.

“The meat exported from other countries, forget Australia and New Zealand for now, even beef from Brazil and China starts at a minimum of RM20 per kg,” said Yap.

Beef imported from Australia and New Zealand are sold by mid to high range retailers as well as premier hotels and restaurants.

Yap said the Department of Veterinary Services had recently denied beef from two slaughterhouses in China after failing to comply with halal standards.

Restaurant owner Mohd Ali Abdullah said he is will be forced to pass on price increases to his customers.

Mohd Ali said his customers used to be able to enjoy a bowl of sup tulang (bone stew) for RM2.50 five years ago, but are now to paying RM4.50 for the same portion.

“If cost of meat increased, my soup would have to increase,” said Mohd Ali, who uses sirloins, bones and tails in the hearty stew.

“I cannot maintain the same prices if I buy more expensive ingredients,” he conceded.

If India stops exporting beef,  Malaysia’s 61.3 per cent Muslim population, who consume the most of the country’s beef will have to fork out more or forego eating the meat.

“If that happens, our low-end customers, who are majority Malays will no longer be able to afford beef, which has become part of their staple diet,” added Yap.

“Local buffalo meat production is close to zero. And the cow reared and fattened here are Australian breeds, which means they are premium quality beef, and very costly,” said Yap, adding that the meat can range anywhere between RM20 to RM60 depending on the cut,” he said.

He believes India will have to hold off stopping beef exports.

“I don’t think it is even possible. In India, 25 million people’s livelihood depends on the industry, not to mention the impact on the rest of the world. This is just not possible,” Yap added.

India’s deputy high commissioner to Malaysia, Dr Acquino Vimal told The Malay Mail Online that they have not received any notification pertaining to a ban on beef exports.  

“If a ban is going to be put in place we would have been informed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry,” he briefly said.