Latest news with #halal
Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Minister clarifies halal status of Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz caterer amid audit report concerns
KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir today clarified that the delay in halal certification for the food service provider awarded the patient meal contract at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) was due to technical issues in the application process, not non-compliance with halal standards. He said the matter should not alarm the public, as it does not suggest the company involved is operating outside halal requirements. 'The issue is not that the company doesn't practise halal procedures, but rather a technical delay in obtaining the certificate. 'The halal certification process in Malaysia applies not to the company as a whole, but to the specific premises,' he said during the debate on the Auditor-General's Report in Parliament today. Zambry explained that once a company is awarded a tender, it is typically given six months to apply for halal certification. However, in this case, the process took more than a year due to administrative setbacks, including delays in appointing a Person in Charge (PIC), which is required for the certification process. 'The company was awarded the tender in 2024, but the PIC was only appointed on April 14, 2025. Without the PIC, the company could not even begin the application process. 'Only after the PIC is in place can the company begin uploading details into the halal system, undergo audits, and proceed with inspections,' he said. This lengthy, sequential process, Zambry said, led to delays that exceeded the stipulated six-month period. He also noted that while the specific premises used for HCTM had yet to be certified, other premises under the same company already held valid halal certification. He added that all food suppliers working with the company were halal-certified. 'This shows that the company does observe halal standards. The issue lies with procedural inefficiencies that we need to correct moving forward,' he said. On Monday, the Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) 2/2025 revealed that HCTM had awarded a three-year catering contract worth RM25.64 million to a company that did not yet possess halal certification from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim). According to the report, the company was granted the tender to supply patient meals at HCTM from February 2024 to February 2027. The report also noted that the objective of the tender was to provide halal meals to patients, in line with the hospital's Main Kitchen, which is certified halal by Jakim.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Halal rules non-negotiable in US tariff talks, says Tengku Zafrul
Investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz stressed that Malaysia won't compromise on trade sovereignty, national interest or key policies in US tariff talks. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Malaysia's halal certification standards are among the non-negotiable issues in ongoing tariff negotiations with Washington, says investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz. He said if the US wanted to have its halal certification recognised, it must comply with the guidelines set by the Islamic development department (Jakim), Berita Harian reported. 'The guidelines we've drawn up reflect lessons from past experiences,' he told the Dewan Rakyat during question time. 'If their halal standards are in line with Jakim's requirements, and the process is consistent with what we accept from other countries, then we can agree (to it), but Jakim must recognise it.' Tengku Zafrul was responding to a question from Syahir Sulaiman (PN-Bachok), who asked about the clear boundaries or 'red lines' Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently said would not be crossed during the negotiations. The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) previously cited Malaysia's halal import rules and Bumiputera equity requirements as barriers leading to the 24% tariff initially imposed on April 2. In its 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, the USTR said Malaysia's halal standards exceeded international norms, requiring dedicated halal-only facilities and involving complex registration processes, which raised costs and delayed exports. Tengku Zafrul also said Malaysia's negotiation approach would be shaped by past experiences, taking into account both local sensitivities and US concerns. He emphasised that the government remains open to fair and constructive dialogue, but certain matters were not up for compromise. 'These include the Bumiputera policy in terms of local ownership and participation in strategic sectors, as well as the preference for local and Bumiputera companies in government procurement. Those are red lines,' he added. Tengku Zafrul reiterated that Malaysia would not yield on matters of trade sovereignty, national interest, or socioeconomic policy, whether in talks with the US or with multinational corporations. 'All of this is to protect Bumiputera interests and ensure balanced national economic development,' he added.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Hospital gave RM25.6mil catering contract to company without halal cert
The 2025 Auditor-General's Report Series 2 found a company without halal certification won a tender to provide meals to patients at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz from February 2024 to February 2027. (Website pic) PETALING JAYA : A government audit has found that Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) awarded a three-year RM25.64 million catering contract to a company that did not possess halal certification from the Islamic development department. The 2025 Auditor-General's Report Series 2 found the company, which was identified as 0267299-T in the audit report, won a tender to provide meals to patients at HCTM from February 2024 to February 2027. The report said the tender was aimed at 'providing halal food to HCTM patients' in accordance with the status of its main kitchen, which had received halal certification from Jakim. The report, which was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today, found HCTM's technical evaluation committee did not recommend 0267299-T as it had failed the technical evaluation as it lacked both halal and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certifications. The committee said the company also failed the technical evaluation as it was inexperienced and did not have enough food servers and trolleys for patients' food. The audit found the technical evaluation committee had evaluated 12 bidders, with the passing mark set at 85% and above. Only two bidders passed the technical assessment, with 0267299-T among the 10 companies that failed after scoring 53%. Despite this, the company was ultimately selected based on meeting the financial evaluation committee's criteria, the audit reported. In response to the audit, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, which oversees HCTM, said the previous company's contract to supply food to patients was about to end and the tender procurement committee agreed to proceed with the tender as the services could not be interrupted. UKM also said that 0267299-T had applied for HACCP certification on Sept 24, 2024, but the audit process could only be carried out after renovation works at HCTM were completed. However, the report did not include UKM's response to 0267299-T's lack of halal certification. Delay in supplying medical equipment HCTM also awarded a separate contract for the provision of medical equipment to a company not recommended by the technical evaluation committee, as its linear accelerator (Linac) machines – used for cancer treatment – failed to meet integration requirements with HCTM's existing systems. As a result, several critical pieces of medical equipment, including the Linac machines, CT simulators (used in radiation therapy) and contrast injectors (used for enhanced imaging), were delayed. These items were scheduled for delivery by Sept 18 last year. At the time of the audit, the Linac machines had still not been delivered, marking a delay of 122 days. 'The delay in the supply of (this equipment) within the stipulated timeframe has affected services at HCTM,' said the audit. 'The delay in starting treatment has had an impact on patient survival, with 20 patients experiencing waiting periods ranging from one to eight weeks.' Earlier today, auditor-general Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi said three UKM tenders worth RM58.45 million were given to companies that were not supported by evaluation committees. Overall, the report found serious problems in how over RM460 million of public money was spent on land deals, university tenders and defence contracts. A total of five audits involving seven ministries were conducted. They covered programmes, activities and projects worth RM48.873 billion. A total of 22 audit recommendations were submitted to the ministries, departments and companies involved.
Malay Mail
16-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Malaysia sets sights on becoming halal gateway between Asean and Oceania, says Zahid
WELLINGTON, July 16 — Malaysia has expressed its readiness to serve as the primary distribution hub for halal products from New Zealand into Asean markets, as part of efforts to strengthen the regional and global halal ecosystem, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Malaysian Halal Industry Development Council chairman, said two halal certification bodies in New Zealand have already been recognised by the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and can play a vital role in driving the export of halal products from that region. 'I have invited New Zealand halal industry players to participate in Mihas (Malaysia International Halal Showcase) in December. 'At that time, we will announce the establishment of the Asean Halal Council, as well as Asean Plus Three (APT), aimed at harmonising regional halal certification standards,' he told a press conference after the Halal Forum and Tea Session with New Zealand's Minister for Biosecurity and Food Safety, Andrew Hoggard, here today. This marks the third day of Ahmad Zahid's five-day working visit to New Zealand. He said another key strategy to facilitate New Zealand's entry into South-east Asian markets through Malaysia is by extending halal certification recognition to organisations within the country. 'I've taken the opportunity here in Wellington to push for stronger collaboration between Malaysia and New Zealand, particularly on promoting Asean halal products into the Asia-Pacific region,' he said. He stressed that the collaboration is vital to supporting growth in the global halal market, which is projected to reach US$5 trillion (RM21.2 trillion) by 2050, with Malaysia targeting at least a five per cent share of the global market. Ahmad Zahid said the halal industry should expand beyond the food and beverage sector to include cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, Islamic banking, insurance, vaccines, gelatin and more. 'Halal is not just for Muslims, it is a universal symbol of cleanliness, quality and health,' he said. Ahmad Zahid said the Halal Development Corporation (HDC) will propose the establishment of a Malaysian Halal Development Commission, which will complement the Asean Halal Council. Meanwhile, efforts to revive the World Halal Council are ongoing in collaboration with GCC countries. Asked whether Jakim's stringent halal certification processes are still a concern for New Zealand companies, Zahid said the issue no longer exists. 'Jakim has delegated authority to two halal certifying bodies in New Zealand. Applications are now handled through them, not directly via Jakim. 'However, Jakim will continue periodic audits to ensure compliance with its standards. We don't foresee any issues as I met with the two recognised associations this morning, both of which are certified by Jakim and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS),' he said. Last year, New Zealand's halal-certified meat exports to Malaysia exceeded NZD60 million (RM151 million). During the forum, Ahmad Zahid also witnessed the exchange of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and the University of Canterbury (UC). The LoI focuses on strengthening cooperation in chemical and process engineering, halal food technology and sustainable development. — Bernama
CNA
10-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
This vending machine serves hot plain or egg prata with curry from Springleaf Prata Place
From banana cake to durians, Singapore's vending machines are getting more creative – and now, you can get your prata fix instantly with the new vending machine by Springleaf Prata at Lion City Sailors Soccer Club on Mattar Road. This launch is a collaboration between local halal vending machine company, One Halal Nation, and popular halal F&B chain, Springleaf Prata Place. In a video posted to Tiktok on Jul 6 by One Halal Nation's founder and director, Amanda Atan, she said that these machines will serve freshly-pan-fried, ready-to-eat, shredded, hot roti prata in a cup, which comes with fish curry packed separately. Customers can choose between two pieces of plain prata in each cup or one plain and one egg prata. Cutleries are also provided at the side of the machine. According to Amanda, these cups are sealed and collected from the Springleaf Kitchen Collection Centre to be stocked up on site at around 8.30am to 9.30am daily. The vending machines are also set to a temperature of up to 65 degrees Celsius as per Singapore's Food Agency guidelines. Amanda also shared that the vending machines are the result of three years of discussions and six months of planning to finalise approved packaging and ensure food quality. 'What y'all see as 'just another vending machine' took such a long period to get all the right people to work together and serve the community,' she said. Springleaf Prata Place currently has nine outlets across Singapore. Apart from their eateries, they also offer catering services and prata live stations.
