Malaysia: HDC Recognizes Halal Science and Research Community

Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) awarded prizes to 6 winners for the best poster design, a competition that required submissions to depict Halal science and research ideas, at the closing of WHRS 2011 officiated by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

An international competition started last year by HDC, submissions by scientists and researchers for 2011 totalled 29, an overwhelming response compared to last year.

The winners are Nureesun Samamluka, Raziah Noor Razali, Kobkarn Namsirilert, Dr Puziah Hashim, Irwandi Jaswir and Dzulkifly Mat Hashim.

The criteria used for judging the best submissions include innovation and creativity factors in the perspective of the Halal industry, in line with the prospect of commercialisation and continuous improvement.

“The Halal industry is in constant need of novel and fresh Halal products, a call that is in sync with the Government’s own transformation programme, which aims to develop the country into a high-income nation by 2020.

“In being competitive, industry players would need to vigilantly invest in more research and development activities while keeping abreast of ideas related to existing and potential Halal products, “ said Dato’ Seri Jamil Bidin, chief executive officer of HDC.

Entries for the HDC Poster competition have to highlight any of the topics including Halal ingredients, specialty processed food, Halal supply chain, Halal pharmaceuticals and Halal personal care & cosmetics.

“We would like to show our appreciation of the efforts put in by the research and science fraternity and instil the spirit of competitiveness among them,” added Jamil.

Positioned as an international competition and open to the international science community, individual and groups, the prize money to each individual is RM1000. The participants to date include institutions of higher learning, research centres and institutes.

Entries were judged by a panel of experts and the winning innovative posters were showcased on the 6th and 7th of April, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) during the time of WHRS 2011.