JAKIM Becomes Sole Halal Certification To Avoid Cobfusion

JAKIM BECOMES SOLE HALAL CERTIFICATION BODY TO AVOID CONFUSION ALOR SETAR (Malaysia), Nov 14 (Bernama) -- The decision to make the Islamic Development Department's (Jakim) the sole halal certification body in the country from January next year is aimed at streamlining halal standards and avoiding confusion among Muslims on halal logo. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said as such, state Islamic religious councils and Jakim would be responsible in issuing halal certificates. "Our aim is to avoid previous pitfalls where halal certificates had been issued by seven parties, some of them were irresponsible," he told reporters after presenting academic awards at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Jawa, Kota Sarang Semut here Sunday. He was commenting on a call from Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia deputy president Teh Kee Sin to Jakim to postpone the halal certification implementation as it would have an adverse effect on food and manufacturing industries. Jamil Khir said some of the companies appointed before were more interested to make profit compared with Jakim and state Islamic religious councils, which always had the Muslim community's best interest at heart. -- BERNAMA