Jihad needed in halal food business

By ROSLINA MOHAMAD - Monday September 1, 2008

KUANTAN: More effort should be taken to increase Muslim entrepreneurs producing and marketing halal food, said Malaysian Islam Chambers of Commerce (MICC) deputy president Md Shah Amin.

He said it was a challenge faced by the Muslim business community.

“The challenge lies in increasing Muslim entrepreneurs in the halal food business.

“It should be seen as jihad in business,” he said in his speech before the official opening of a seminar on development of the halal industry by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob here recently.

Also present were Pahang SEDC chief executive officer Datuk Lias Md Noor and Standards Malaysia accreditation director Ridzwan Kasim.

He said there was huge potential for marketing halal products globally.

Md Shah said that halal products not only covered food but included cosmetics, and daily essential goods and services such as hotels, logistics and banking.

On MICC, Md Shah said it would continue to organise programmes to disseminate information on halal product business management.

Ridzwan, in his speech, said that Standards Malaysia had conducted a roadshow called Halal Food Standards Realisation since 2004.

He said that this year's programme was more comprehensive and informative.

He noted that public awareness on standards and their importance was low.

“Consumers, producers and distributors of halal food should be made more aware of the halal concept,” he added.

THE STAR