Make halal certification compulsory for slaughterhouses, govt told

KUALA LUMPUR: Government officials have been advised to make obtaining Malaysian Halal Certification mandatory for slaughterhouses, as confusion among Muslims over the halal status of food products is increasing. This recommendation comes following a series of media investigations that have raised concerns about the halal compliance of poultry slaughtered and consumed by Muslims.

A source stated that making halal certification compulsory would ensure Muslims are protected from consuming poultry that has not been slaughtered according to Islamic requirements, as evidenced by a recent incident where some slaughterhouses disregarded hygiene and Islamic slaughtering standards. The proposal to make halal certification mandatory was presented to the cabinet in 2024 but was rejected due to opposition from certain cabinet members who believed the requirement could negatively impact non-Muslim business operators.

Despite Malaysia having introduced halal certification 52 years ago, the government has decided to maintain its current voluntary policy, which is administered by the Islamic Development Department, state Islamic religious departments and councils. Since its inception in 1974, the voluntary halal certification policy has remained unchanged.