KOTA BHARU, (Bernama) — The Entrepreneur Development Ministry is studying placing the development of Malaysia’s halal industry under its ambit and in line with its role which is more focused on it.
Its Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof said, however, the business of certification will remain with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and see the continued involvement of the ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to award the Malaysian standard.
“In this way, we are confident of streamlining efforts at developing the halal industry with greater focus and make it easier to manage the halal industry,” he added.
He told the media this after visiting the proposed site for the Tekun Nasional Wholesale Hub at the Platinum Mall, in Jalan Jambatan Sultan Yahya Petra, here today.
On rural entrepreneurs, Mohd Redzuan said he had directed officers in his ministry to come up with a list using data from TEKUN, SME Bank and Bank Rakyat, to determine if those concerned had obtained their halal certification or otherwise.
He said he had personally brought up the issue during discussions at the Halal Malaysia Council to find a way of ensuring that rural entrepreneurs are provided the facilities for obtaining the certification.
In this regard, Mohd Redzuan said TEKUN Nasional’s discussions with JAKIM on finding ways to make it easier for food exporters in the country to obtain halal certification was showing a positive outcome, with an expected solution soon.
“We are very hopeful that when the discussion is concluded, local entrepreneurs, particularly small and medium entrepreneurs, can increase their halal contribution to the country’s gross national product in 2030 to 25 per cent compared to just 17 per cent now.
“In this way, the Entrepreneur Development Ministry and the government can specifically assist the halal industry explored by Muslims by way of enabling them to grab the opportunities available, while increasing the number of local halal products,” he added.
