Halal Council to spearhead management, development: Zahid
Published on: Friday, February 12, 2016
Putra Jaya: The Special Cabinet Committee on Halal Industry Management and Development was dissolved Thursday and replaced with the Malaysia Halal Council (MHM). Announcing this Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the committee's functions would be divided between the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the Halal Industry Development Corp (HDC). "Jakim will concentrate on the certification process, governance and matters related to Syariah, while HDC will focus on expanding and internationalising the halal industry," he told a press conference after chairing the last meeting of the cabinet committee here Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT Ahmad Zahid said other bodies and agencies from various ministries would be consolidated under the MHM to assail the industry to greater heights. "Our country has embarked on halal certification for a long time and we should take proactive measures to bring Malaysia to the frontline of halal product production," he said. He said halal products should not be confined only to foods but also other fields such as pharmaceuticals, tourism, services, and banking and insurance. Hence, a special Act on the MHM would be formulated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Jakim, he said, adding that the bill would be fined tune by the Attorney-General Chambers upon Cabinet's approval for tabling in the Dewan Rakyat. ADVERTISEMENT On the meeting of the main committee of the Islamic Consultative Council (MPI) Thursday, Ahmad Zahid said it agreed to set up seven clusters chaired by imminent figures in the quest for consensus on issues, especially those related to Islam. "The seven clusters will brainstorm and discuss their differences and will meet again in six months' time to find common ground and understanding among them," he said.
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The MPI, which is made up of ulama, academics, corporate leaders and non-governmental organisation leaders, acts as thinkers in assisting the government by providing ideas and proposals on national development agenda according to Islamic tenets. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha and PAS spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din were present. –Bernama