Strategy being planned to empower halal management in Sarawak, says Premier

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Strategy being planned to empower halal management in Sarawak, says Premier

BY JACQUELINE DAVID ON NOVEMBER 9, 2022

Sharifah Hasidah presses the screen of a computer tablet for the gimmick launch of the Malaysia Halal Tour Programme Sarawak 2022. With her on stage are (from left) Hairol Ariffein, Lokman Hakim, Misnu and Dzulkornain. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

KUCHING (Nov 9): The Sarawak Islamic Council (Mais) has drawn up a strategy to empower halal management in the state, which would include a more efficient issuing process for halal certification and the development of the halal micro-industry.

In stating this, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government had always been aware of the potential that could be explored from the halal industry for the entire

‘Keluarga Malaysia’ (Malaysian Family), especially concerning those involved in the micro small and medium enterprises (micro-SMEs).

“On the halal certification, I hope that Mais would work more closely with the Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) to ensure that the aspirations of companies wanting to explore halal industry could be realised,” said Abang Johari in his speech, read by Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law, Malaysia Agreement 1963 and State-

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Halal Tour Programme Sarawak 2022’ at Dewan Majma’ Tuanku Abdul Halim Mua’adzam Shah here yesterday.

It is stated that as at August this year, a total of 746 premises in Sarawak had been halal- certified.

This, said Abang Johari, would be a plus factor in attracting more tourists from the Middle Eastern countries and also making Sarawak a Muslim- friendly investment destination.

The Premier, also the Minister for Finance and New Economy, added that the Halal Industry Master Plan (HIMP) 2030 was introduced by the

government as a manifestation of the halal industry being ‘a national strength’ that should be prioritised and improved from time to time.

In this regard, he said the state government was fully supportive of the implementation of HIMP 2030.

“This master plan is also seen to be moving in tandem with Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which also puts

emphasis on the agricultural sector towards producing quality and nutritious food.

“PCDS 2030 also focuses on the development of digital infrastructure in collaboration with the private sector, emphasising on production and marketing to make the agricultural sector more sustainable; thus, further guaranteeing food security for the country, and also the world in general,”

he said.

On his official working visit to attend the World Halal Business Conference (WHBCC) 2022 in Australia in September, he highlighted the aspects of the food supply chain, which had become a global issue.

“I hope that the PCDS 2030 agenda to make Sarawak a net exporter of high quality agriculture produce and products by 2030 could meet domestic and international demands, especially in the global halal market,” he said.

Adding on, Abang Johari said there were several initiatives, injected with an allocation of RM92 million, that focused on boosting the country’s halal

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2023; and the Malaysian Services and Halal Global Programme to promote halal products in the global market with an allocation of RM8 million.

The other initiatives, he added, were enhancing the compliance with halal certification and adapting to halal innovations with an allocation of RM6.5 million; and introducing the Halal Endowment for Disabled SMEs, meant to implement an on-boarding programme for disabled individuals wanting to venture into halal business, with an allocation of RM2.5 million.