Muslim Consumers Association Welcomes Formulation Of Halal Act

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) — The Muslim Consumers
Association welcomes the government’s decision to formulate the Halal
Act as a move to further advance the halal industry in Malaysia.

Its president Datuk Dr Maamor Osman, however, said the act had to
get the approval from the Council of Rulers before its implementation.

“The main issue is the question of jurisdiction, whether the act
falls under the jurisdiction of the Syariah or Civil courts…it has to
be determined first,” he said to Bernama on Friday.

Tabling the 2010 Budget at the Dewan Rakyat today, Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the government would
formulate the Halal Act in collaboration with state religious councils.

He said the Act would be the basis for the development, regulation and enforcement of halal industry activities.

With the Act in place, the Halal Industry Development Corporation
(HDC) would also be corporatized as an agency under the Ministry of
International Trade and Industry (MITI), which will prepare and
implement an action plan for the development of the halal industry.

— BERNAMA