KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is considering the possibility of making halal certification compulsory for restaurants and food establishments that do not serve pork or alcohol.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said currently, obtaining halal certification is optional for food business operators, Free Malaysia Today reported.
"There are no existing laws that require restaurants or food companies to secure halal certification," he was quoted as saying during a press conference at the International Conference on Family Law 2024 today.
"To enforce mandatory halal certification, several Acts and laws would need to be amended, with various agencies involved in ensuring compliance."
Na'im encouraged Muslims to be more vigilant in verifying the halal status of restaurants by using platforms such as Jakim's Halal Malaysia Portal.
Increased consumer awareness, he said, could pressure businesses to obtain the certification.
This comes after Jakim recently confirmed that six popular food and beverage outlets frequented by Muslims, including Johnny's, Black Canyon, Dolly Dim Sum, Mr Dakgalbi, Bungkus Kaw Kaw, and Ayam Penyet Best (with the exception of four outlets), are not halal-certified.