LUNDU: Non-Muslim entrepreneurs accounted for 69.5 per cent of halal certificate holders in Sarawak last year, according to 2024 data from the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS).
Political Secretary to the Premier, Abang Abdul Aziz Abang Draup, said the figures show that halal certification is not solely a requirement for Muslim entrepreneurs, but is also recognised as a vital strategy to attract Muslim customers and boost market competitiveness.
“I urge entrepreneurs in Lundu to seize the opportunities available, particularly through the halal certification programme, to enhance competitiveness and improve the quality of products and services,” he said when officiating at the Juh Berbisnes Ngan Sijil Halal programme at Dewan Mahligai Gading here on Saturday.
He explained that the programme aims to provide entrepreneurs with greater understanding of the importance of halal certification, while opening wider market opportunities, including access to international markets.
Abdul Aziz added that the Malaysian Halal Certification Immediate Initiative (ISPHM), introduced on January 1, 2024, has reduced the application processing time to a maximum of 30 days.
Statistics show that 98.2 per cent of applications this year have been successfully processed within that timeframe, reflecting the industry’s high level of awareness of halal certification.
