KUALA LUMPUR, May 20: KTC Group Sdn Bhd has teamed up with halal-related consultancy Zajas Sdn Bhd to help more business entities understand application procedures for halal certification by JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) by providing consultancy and organising courses for successful halal certification.
Both companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the purpose over the weekend. It was inked by KTC Group founder and CEO K.T. Chong and Zajas chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Jaffar.
Over the years, JAKIM’s halal logo has received an excellent reputation for ensuring products and services offered by companies with the logo had adhered to recognised halal standards jointly developed by JAKIM and the Department of Standards, Malaysia.
The move by KTC Group, a property-based company, is part of its expansion and diversification plans, said its Chief Projects Officer, Memphes Chong.
He said the halal products industry was growing exponentially but many were still in the dark about employing the right procedures to obtain halal certification from JAKIM.
Over the years, Malaysia has emerged as a global leader in the halal industry. Globally, the halal market is estimated to worth about US$2 trillion while Malaysia’s export of halal products in 2023 was valued at around RM44.5 billion.
“We want to help other businesses to fully understand the entire process related to halal certification so that they can save time and effort to ensure that they can comply with the halal requirements,” said Chong.
Datuk Zainal Abidin, a former director of JAKIM’s Halal Hub before his retirement in 2018, said that his company has been recognised by JAKIM under the auspices of the Malaysia International Halal Academy (MIHA), an initiative by JAKIM with approval from the Malaysia Halal Council.
He said his company has been assisting many companies locally and abroad to better understand procedures involved in obtaining halal certification by JAKIM.
He regarded the MoU with KTC Group as a step in the right direction to accelerate greater understanding about halal compliance and certification in Malaysia, whose halal certification was recognised globally.
Chong said the courses to be run by KTC Group and Zajas would be under the auspices of KTC Group’s education arm, International Business Schools, located at the company’s headquarters in Seri Petaling here.
To date, 15 standards have been developed for the halal sector – including food and beverage schemes, pharmaceuticals, logistics, cosmetics, halal laboratory testing, and Muslim-friendly hospitality services.
At the same time, the Halal Malaysia trademark or logo has been registered and used in 26 countries other than Malaysia, including the United States, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan.
As part of Malaysia’s efforts to be part of the fast-growing halal industry, foreign industry players can now directly apply to JAKIM for the Malaysian halal certification under the International Direct Application for Malaysian Halal Certification initiative.
Malaysia’s international halal certification covers seven schemes: F&B products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, logistics services, medical devices and contract manufacturing.
More information on the consultancy and courses for halal certification can be obtained from KTC Group at tel. no. +60182364198.
WE