SHANGHAI: Only the Conference of Rulers can determine any decision to implement policies for the requirement of halal certification at food premises, including those operated by non-Muslim traders.
Following this, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said all parties should not feel threatened, especially since the proposal to require halal certification at food premises is still in the study stage.
Zahid, who is also the Chairman of the Malaysian Halal Council (MHC), said the debate surrounding the issue must be put to rest immediately.
"It (the proposal to mandate halal certification) is merely a proposal, not a policy (by the government). I do not believe that any parties are concerned about the proposal.
"Religious affairs, including the halal issue, fall under the authority of the Conference of Rulers.
"Therefore, whether the study will later mandate the use of halal certification or not, that decision lies with the Conference of Rulers," he said at a press conference with Malaysian journalists on the last day of his visit to China today.
The halal certification issue recently arose after Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok opposed a proposal by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), which would require all food establishments that do not serve pork or alcohol to obtain halal certification.
Kok's statement was met with criticism from several quarters, including Umno Youth Chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh, the opposition bloc, non-governmental organisations and the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia.
Bukit Aman has since opened an investigation into the matter.
Commenting further, Zahid said the MHC and Jakim have already taken steps to shorten the approval period for halal certification applications.
"Previously, the process took nine months, but the council and Jakim reached a mutual agreement to reduce it (the process) to 23 working days.
"Now, it has been further shortened to 15 working days from the date the application is submitted, provided that all the requirements for the application have been fulfilled," he said.
He added that before the decision to shorten the application process was implemented, Jakim had also called applicants and other stakeholders for engagement sessions.
"Jakim will inform them of the conditions that need to be met to facilitate this process. It is not fair to accuse Jakim of causing delays when the conditions have not been met, even though the application has been handled properly," he said.