Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that any decisions regarding the study to mandate halal certification for all restaurants and food operators will be under the authority of the Conference of Rulers. He stressed that the matter remains in the study phase and should not be a source of controversy.
Zahid emphasised that no parties should feel threatened by the ongoing study on mandatory halal certification. “Matters of religion, including halal issues, fall under the authority of the Conference of Rulers. If the study finds it necessary to require halal certification or not, we will leave it to the Conference of Rulers,” he said.
He also noted that the Cabinet would follow Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s advice to avoid making the issue a polemic. “We must respect the current situation. Although I am the Chairman of the Halal Council of Malaysia, I will take careful action in determining the findings of the study,” he added during his final day of a working visit to China.
On September 6, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, mentioned that the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) is reviewing proposals to make halal certification mandatory for restaurants and food companies that do not serve pork and alcohol.
The proposal has sparked controversy, particularly from Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who argued that halal certification should be voluntary, allowing operators to decide based on market demand.
Zahid highlighted the importance of meeting established criteria for obtaining halal certification to ensure a smooth application process. He reassured that Jakim has improved its processing times significantly, reducing the duration from nine months to 15 working days for applications, provided all requirements are met. He also encouraged potential applicants to attend consultation sessions with Jakim to clarify necessary conditions for approval.
