KLANG, NOV 10: Selangor Chief Minister (Menteri Besar) Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim advised Muslim halal industry entrepreneurs to be more daring in exploring other areas of production that has a high demand other than food.
Other areas for example would be production of ingredients, cosmetics and pharmasuitacals.
He said, based on the statistical count of Halal Certificate applications, non-Muslim companies go into these fields and non-Malay entrepreneurs are monopolising the food and beverage production as well as the slaughter houses in the country.
“We must learn to be Muslims who are more advanced in these areas in order to accommodate local demand,” he said when at the Halal Festival opening ceremony at Masjid As Sharif, here.
In relation to that, he asks Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) to come up with measures to help entrepreneurs develop the industry.
“I also hope this program will be continued and spread in other mosques around the country,” he said.
Up till 2011, as many as 4,787 halal certificates have been issued to factories, premises and slaughter houses in the country.
A total of 701 companies have been approved Halal certification to export production overseas.
At the Halal Festival at As Sharif mosque that went on for three days, a total of 30 outlets exhibited food, drink and clothing.
The festival that was organised by JAIS was the extension of the Halal carnival in the Selangor State last year.
