New Halal Commission will centralise certification to boost local business competitiveness in domestic and international markets.
KUALA LUMPUR: Establishing a Halal Commission under the 13th Malaysia Plan is a strategic step to centralise and improve halal certification.
Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Seri R Ramanan said this move will help local businesses become more competitive in domestic and international markets.
He explained that after 2025, the ministry will no longer receive a specific budget for halal certification guidance for entrepreneurs as that responsibility now falls under the Halal Development Commission’s purview.
“The new Halal Commission will take over all matters and assistance to strengthen the sector,” he said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Ramanan was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa who asked whether the ministry still had a role in managing halal certification.
However, he said KUSKOP is ready to cooperate with the soon-to-be-established commission to support the sector’s entrepreneurs.
He added that the ministry is now focusing on improving product competitiveness for entrepreneurs including better packaging and branding for all products including halal ones.
Ramanan emphasised that KUSKOP is committed to strengthening the competitiveness of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises through programmes that cover halal certification and quality standards.
He highlighted the Bumiputera Enterprise Enhancement Programme by SME Corp as a key example which aims to increase productivity, certification compliance and promotion.
Ramanan noted that one MSME in the pickle business received an RM500,000 grant for machinery and equipment.
Additionally, he said the Halal Entrepreneur Development Programme concentrates on three areas: certification and standards, marketing and promotion, and financial support with technical guidance.
He explained that this programme builds the capacity of halal products through better branding, packaging and labelling.
At the same time, the Halal Entrepreneur Internationalisation Programme works to expand and strengthen Malaysian halal brands in international markets. – Bernama
