Forum Bincang Hak dan Isu Pengguna di Halfest 2012

USE PURCHASING POWER TO EDUCATE PRODUCERS AND FOOD OUTLETS ON HALAL CERTIFICATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Muslim consumers should use their purchasing power to educate producers and food outlets on the importance of acquiring halal certification issued by the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) for the growth of their business in the future.

Muslim Consumer Association Malaysia (PPIM) executive secretary Datuk Nadzim Johan said by right, Muslim consumers should insist on halal certification before they dined at restaurants or any food outlets or buying food or other consumer products.

"This is to ensure that the food that they ate or products that they use such as shampoo are undoubtedly safe and adhere to the syariah law," he told Bernama when met at the Halal Fiesta Malaysia (HALFEST) at Putra World Trade Centre.

He said although products without halal certification are not necessarily non halal but the action of some to use fake halal certification in order to mislead Muslim consumers that their product are halal certified is an immoral action and against the law.

Nadzim said Malaysian halal law was imposed through the amendments to Trade Description Act 1972 which was passed in January 2012 but the enforcement was extended until December this year.

"This is to educate consumers on their rights to choose products that are halal certified and to show local businesses the potential that the halal industry has for them," he said.

Hence, he advised companies that have yet to obtain halal certification from Jakim, to submit their application immediately to enable them to capture the vast potential of halal market locally and abroad.

Nadzim said HALFEST organisers, including PPIM, have decided that for next year's HALFEST, companies or entrepreneurs must have at least started their halal certification process with Jakim before their participation could be considered.

Meanwhile, consumers have given the thumbs-up to the five-day fiesta which started on Wednesday, saying it was able to provide clear information on products which already had halal certification and those that are in the process of doing so.

Maria Abdul Rahman, 29 from Puchong said she visited the expo to note down the products sold at the expo as a guide to halal products.

Khairul Anuar, 30, from Kajang said he had not visited the whole expo but had gone to most of the booths there.

He also said he had not thought of looking for the halal certification at the booths as he had assumed everything was halal certified.

"I have been to probably one third of the booths here, according to the brochure there are 600 booths here, I don't think I can walk that much. I've bought and eaten some cakes and fast foods here, I did not ask if the products were halal certified, this is HALFEST, so everything is halal right?," he said.

HALFEST 2012 is organised by CIMB Islamic and supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, Halal Industry Development Corporation, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), Malaysia Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and the Muslim Consumer Association of Malaysia (PPIM).

--BERNAMA