DPM: Explore other halal products
JOHOR BARU: More efforts should be made to introduce halal products in other categories as Malaysia’s halal sector focuses too much on food and beverage, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Deputy Prime Minister said about 87% of the country’s halal products are in the food and beverage category.

“I hope we can move beyond that.

“During my working trips overseas, I noticed a high demand for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products... so we not only can produce ingredients that go into making the products, we can try coming up with more Malaysian-made halal cosmetics.

“Maybe we can set a target of achieving 50% halal products in the food and beverage category while the other 50% are non-food products in the next 10 years,” he said here yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid also said that during his recent 11-day official visit to China, its Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister gave their commitment about marketing Malaysian halal products to its population of 1.4 billion people.

“According to them, Fortune 500 corporations and other companies in China are ready to help Malaysia with this.

“Our halal industry players should take the opportunity to penetrate the huge China market with quality halal products because such products, with its hygienic and stringent preparation process, can be accepted by Muslims and non-Muslims alike,” he added.

Earlier, when launching the Halal on Track programme at the Persada Johor international convention centre, he told the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to issue halal certification to applicants within 15 working days.

He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously told Jakim to complete the approval process within 30 days in a bid to tackle complaints of slow halal certificate issuance, but the agency was able to complete it within 23 days last year.

“I now throw Jakim a new challenge – to complete the approval process in 15 working days from the date of application.

“This includes conducting all the due process and inspections required for the certification,” he said, adding that the Halal Development Corporation and Majlis Amanah Rakyat should work closely with Jakim to achieve the 15-day target.

He said the shorter approval period might put pressure on Jakim but he believes they would be able to meet the challenge.

On a separate matter, Ahmad Zahid said the government would consider tax incentives for businesses investing in the halal industry within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

The Deputy Prime Minister said he would bring up the matter with Anwar during the Cabinet meeting today.

“The Johor Mentri Besar (Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi) has made a request for a tax holiday. I will ‘whisper’ it to the PM for the matter to be given due reconsideration.

“I will try to follow through... he may consider including (the tax holiday) as one of the incentives given to halal industry players in his Budget 2025 speech in October,” Ahmad Zahid said.
Halal,Ahmad Zahid Hamidi,Jakim,Certification,Food and Beverage
JOHOR BARU: More efforts should be made to introduce halal products in other categories as Malaysia’s halal sector focuses too much on food and beverage, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.