PUTRAJAYA — A proposal for mandatory halal certification is almost complete and will be presented to the Cabinet this Wednesday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said.
“Among the areas that we will cover is related to the proposal to make halal preparation mandatory, because that will go through a rather lengthy process.
“Currently, we have a policy that halal certification is voluntary.
“We want to explore the possibility of making halal certification mandatory due to growing concerns among the Muslim community,” Bernama reported him saying during the National-level Maulidur Rasul celebration here, today.
Na’im added that if the proposal requires further discussion, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) will engage with all relevant stakeholders.
If the Cabinet approves the proposal, a comprehensive study will follow, including seeking the views of the Malay Rulers, as the issue pertains to religion.
Engagement sessions involving all relevant stakeholders will also be held, while input from various associations, restaurant operators, and other stakeholders will also be considered.
“Once the detailed study is completed and if the Cabinet agrees, we will prepare a proposal for submission. Simultaneously, a paper will be drafted for presentation to the Muzakarah Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI).
“These two top authorities will ultimately decide whether the policy to mandate halal certification can be implemented,” he said.
Na’im was instructed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last week to prepare comprehensive report on the proposal for mandatory halal certification.
The minister’s off-the-cuff remark on the proposal at a press conference during the International Conference on Family Law 2024 on September had prompted Seputeh MP Teresa Kok to react.
Kok, a DAP lawmaker, expressed concerns that the mandatory requirement would financially burden smaller food businesses, and had made specific mention of “small Malay small restaurant entrepreneurs”.
After numerous police reports were lodged against her for allegedly touching on a royalty, race, religion (3R) issue, Kok gave her statement to police last week.
Her party leadership also defended her, saying she was just doing her job as an MP to voice the people’s concerns. — September 16, 2024