News From : DagangHalal.com (16 Mar 2010)
KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) — The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has set standards that had to be met to get the halal certificate and this applied to all applicants without discrimination.
While questioning the rationale of certain quarters for disputing the procedure of approval, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said this so that consumers would not be doubtful about the issuance of the halal certificate.
“We want consumers to feel satisfied so that they need not question whether the certificate was fake or not,” he told reporters after closing a conference of the heads of state Islamic departments and councils here on Tuesday.
“I also do not want people to wonder that obtaining the certificate was easy and that procedures and regulations were not followed,” he said when asked to comment on reports that alleged that obtaining the certificate was difficult.
Several operators of coffee houses were reported to have given the excuse that they did not apply for the Jakim halal certificate as conditions set by the department were too strict and ridiculous.
“It’s a little ridiculous to say that conditions set for the certificate are too strict and could not be met, whereas many had met them and got the certificate,” said Jamil Khir.
Meanwhile, Jamil Khir said 40 Islamic affairs officers who recently joined Jakim will take the Islamic Management Diploma course (DPI) in June.
The six-month course by Jakim was the department’s character building programme managed by the Malaysian Islamic Training Institute (ILIM) he said.
— BERNAMA