PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysia Halal Council will replace the Halal Industry Management and Development Special Cabinet Committee to address wider issues pertaining the halal industry.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said issues regarding certification, administration and syariah will come under the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).
"The Halal Industry Development Corporation or HDC will only focus on developing and globalising the halal industry.
"Halal bodies under various industries will be incorporated under this council to ensure maximum effectiveness in the production of halal items by the country, thus putting Malaysia on the frontline of halal goods production," he told reporters today.
Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the Halal Council will come under the purview of the Prime Minister's Department to ensure that decisions made are in line with the goal of making Malaysia a halal hub.
He was speaking to reporters after chairing a two-hour Halal Industry Development and Management Malaysia special cabinet committee meeting here.
On a separate matter, Zahid said Malaysia and Bangladesh will soon sign a government-to-government memorandum of understanding on the employment of Bangladeshi workers in the country.
Zahid said the date for the agreement would be decided after the cabinet approval.
“It is not the government’s decision to employ 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, but this is to meet the demands of the industry and business chambers.
"These foreign workers are subject to the demands of the industry of various sectors, where they will have to go through strict screening," he said.
Zahid added that the new foreign worker levy has been put on hold until the Home Ministry’s secretary-general meets with industry players, business chambers and associations.
He said the meeting is expected to be held before Feb 20.