New council replaces Cabinet committee to oversee halal industry

The Special Cabinet Committee on Halal Industry Management and Development was dissolved today and replaced with the Malaysia Halal Council (MHM). Announcing this today, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri 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 Shariah, 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 today. Zahid said other bodies and agencies from various ministries would be consolidated under 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. A special Act on MHM would be formulated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Jakim, he said, adding that the bill would be finetuned by the Attorney-General's Chambers upon Cabinet's approval for tabling in the Dewan Rakyat. On the meeting of the main committee of the Islamic Consultative Council (MPI) today, Zahid said it agreed to set up seven clusters chaired by prominent 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. MPI, which is made up of Muslim scholars, academics, corporate leaders and NGO 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, February 11, 2016.]]>