KUALA LUMPUR: Halal Industry Development Corp (HDC) is now the only body in the country authorised to issue halal certificates.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said HDC would also conduct research and development, organise expositions and promote the halal industry.

He said the cabinet decided to streamline halal operations, which until now had been handled by two separate bodies, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti).

Jakim handled certification while Miti was involved in promotions, marketing and exhibitions.

He said 163 Jakim officers involved in certification had been absorbed into HDC, and the government-owned corporation would continue to use the Jakim logo.
He explained that HDC was not a privatised company, but a unit in the Prime Minister's Department. The minister in charge is Senator Datuk Amirsham A. Aziz. It was set up in 2006 to grow the halal industry here.

Speaking after a visit to the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim), Ahmad Zahid said that the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) acknowledged Malaysia as the halal hub, and Malaysia's was the only international halal certification recognised within the OIC.

He also said a lack of understanding of the concept of Islam Hadhari and the fact that little was done to translate it into action could have contributed to the Barisan Nasional's losses in last month's general election.

He said Ikim had been tasked with explaining the philosophy of Islam Hadhari to the people and translating it into action. Each principle would have a follow-up in order to strengthen it.

He said Ikim also had the authority to explain Islam, he said, and it planned to hold interfaith dialogues to increase understanding.