19/12/2011 (The Star) -  Everyone can take part in the halal industry, regardless of race and religion.

It was not exclusively for Muslims, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

He said even if a business was small and run by a non-Muslim, as long as the products or services did not contravene the Syariah law, it was halal.

“I encourage Muslims and non-Muslim entrepreneurs to enter the industry even if they start small. If they stay focused and have good management, they will succeed,” said Taib before launching the Halal Transformation Programme 2011 near the Waterfront here yesterday.

Drumming up support: Taib beating the drum to symbolically launch the Halal
Transformation Programme as (from left) Resource Planning Assistant Minister
Datuk Naroden Majais, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs)
Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang
and Jacob look on.

He said even big international corporations which were not Muslim-run had already practised halal production.

“In Sarawak, the industry is open to all. I believe that the halal industry can be a big success not only because of support from various agencies and continuous programmes such as this, but also because Malaysia has the most stringent halal certification requirements and one of the leading producers of halal goods in the world.”

“Therefore there is a need to develop the Tanjong Manis Halal Hub to put our country and state at the top of the international halal market.

“I also see that population of Muslims in the world is ever increasing and there would be an increasing need for halal products.”

Earlier, International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan said the goal of the Halal Transformation Programme was to promote and market local halal products as well as be a platform for local entrepreneurs to expand their market and business networks.

“It is also part of the government’s transformation plan to improve the people’s income and standard of living,” he said.

Jacob explained that five halal sectors had been identified as value propositions — palm oil, agriculture, health, tourism, wholesale and retail.

“In order to strengthen the development of halal industry in the country, we have to focus on local halal corporations and companies and ensure that they meet the international specification like the Hazard and Critical Control Point and Good Manufacturing Practice standards.

“Halal parks should also meet with these requirements so that Malaysia could be the leading regional halal distribution centre in the world,” he said.