Islam-Friendly Coconuts: Has Malaysia Halal Drive Gone Too Far - SCMP

6/30/2019 Islam-friendly coconuts: has Malaysia’s halal drive gone too far?
| South China Morning Post
SCMP.COM
Economics
Islam-friendly coconuts: has Malaysia’s

halal drive gone too far?
Hoping to become a global halal hub, Malaysia has expanded the
de nition to cover transport, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, health care
and even banking
However, the growing demand for halal products brings its own
challenges
Topic | Religion
Meaghan Tobin
Published: 12:15pm, 23 Jun, 2019
https://www.scmp.com/print/week-asia/economics/article/3015609/islam-friendly-coconuts-has-malaysias-halal-drive-gone-too-far 1/9
6/30/2019 Islam-friendly coconuts: has Malaysia’s halal drive gone too far? | South China Morning Post
Coconuts do nut automatically spring to mind when it comes to food t for consumption by
Muslims.
Islam’s halal rules for the most part concern pork and alcohol, which are forbidden, and state
that animals used as food must be slaughtered according to speci c methods.
However, Linaco, Malaysia [1]’s largest coconut product company, has been halal certi ed
since 2000.
According to executive director Joe Ling, halal certi cation was not a requirement but being
declared halal has improved business: in 2016, the company recorded revenue of 200 million
ringgit (US$48 million), four times as much as in 2009.
Going global: could halal be the next kosher?

[2]
It has opened doors to new markets such as Egypt, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Kuwait, and helped
establish the company’s reputation for exacting hygiene standards.
Linaco exports hundreds of coconut products – including coconut water, coconut cream and
desiccated coconut – to more than 40 countries.
“Halal certi cation gives consumers an assurance that our processes meet high standards,”
said Ling, 38, whose father founded the company in 1992.
Muslim workers in a halal food-processing facility. Photo: Shutterstock
With the aim of becoming a global halal hub, Malaysia has tapped into the potential of
extending the de nition of halal to cover transport, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, health care
and even banking.
Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) is one of several government

agencies working to expand halal beyond the narrow question of what is permitted or
prohibited by Islam to encompass higher standards of quality, safety and health in production
processes.
Happy halaldays: how Asia became a tourist Mecca for Muslims

[3]
“Halal is beyond food [4] and beverages – halal is a lifestyle,” said Wan Lati Wan Musa, the
agency’s CEO. “Today, Muslim consumers in Malaysia are concerned about the reliability of the
certi cation of their food. The same has happened globally – awareness of halal is rising, so
demand for genuine halal-certi ed products is rising.”
Halal is beyond food and

beverages – halal is a
lifestyle
Wan Lati Wan Musa
Even non-Muslims had come to regard the halal seal as a sign of quality, he said, further
underlining the international demand for halal products.
BUILDING THE BRAND
At China’s Belt and Road Forum in April, Malaysia’s Minister of Economic A airs Azmin Ali
drew attention to the country’s burgeoning halal industry.
“Malaysia is a pioneer in developing and implementing international halal standards,” Azmin

said. “With our comprehensive halal ecosystem, I believe the way forward is the synchronising
of halal certi cation procedures on a global level.”
Asia’s vegetarian culture: does going meatless make sense?

[5]
Also in April, Malaysia hosted the Global Halal Summit and the eighth annual Malaysia
International Halal Showcase trade conference in Kuala Lumpur. The events drew more than
30,000 visitors from more than 70 countries, and featured more than 1,000 exhibitors,
including food manufacturers, cosmetics companies, fashion brands, halal tourism operators
and Islamic banking rms.
Fruits, such as durian and mango, sold at the Malaysia Thailand Halal Food Festival. Photo: Shutterstock
Malaysia has been focused on halal certi cation and development for decades. The Department
of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) was established in 1997 to help Muslims identify
what and where they could eat. Jakim determines halal certi cation and its seal of approval is
highly regarded internationally. Aside from Malaysian products, it recognises 78 halal
certi cations from 45 other countries.
How Hong Kong, Japan and Korea won over Muslim travellers
[6]
The Halal Development Corporation was established in 2006 to support the growth of halal-
related businesses globally. Since 1995, the Association of Islamic Banking Institutions
Malaysia has promoted sharia-compliant banking practices.
Nevertheless, this growing demand for all things halal has produced its own unique challenges.
LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES
Last month, the question of whether bottled water or carbonated drinks could be labelled halal
ignited a social media debate in the Middle East. As Sirajuddin Bin Suhaimee, the director of the
halal hub division of Jakim, noted, some water-puri cation systems use charcoal made from
pig bones in the ltering technology.
In Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s [7] holiest sites, even if medicine is not halal it can be used to
prevent death or illness. In Malaysia, though, the pharmaceutical industry has suggested it is
possible to create genuine halal medications free of pork products and alcohol. However, not
every medication can be produced this way.
CCM Duopharma Biotech, the largest pharmaceutical company in Malaysia by volume of

products sold, has explored ways to make all its products halal compliant and has been
promoting its medicines to government and private hospitals. This year it reported rst-
quarter pro ts of 14.47 million ringgit, up from 10.65 million ringgit in the same period last
year.
Halal Durian Sandwich Cookies certi ed by The Islamic Committee O ce of Thailand. The product can be found on Index
and EEC, and at Thai shops in Taiwan. Photo: Instagram
“We want to create awareness of halal pharmaceuticals among consumers,” said Je rey Wan
Abdul Majid, Duopharma’s chief operating o cer. “But we need to be sure we can meet the
demand rst.”
The aviation industry is also racing to meet rising demand for halal products.
In recent years, so many Muslim travellers visited Japan from Malaysia that Tokyo’s Narita
Airport built a separate kitchen to prepare food for Malaysia Airlines ights.
Why are so many Muslims suddenly visiting Japan?

[8]
At Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), airlines strive to ensure all food and utensils
meet halal standards. In- ight meals for 32 airlines ying out of KLIA are prepared in the
halal-certi ed kitchen of Brahim’s SATS Food Services.
The massive operation employs more than 1,000 chefs and takes the crockery and utensils
from incoming aircraft to undergo samak, or ritual cleansing. The entire process of cooking and
cleaning complies with Jakim standards.
“What we’re saying in Malaysia is we can get down to the details,” Je rey said. “We’ve set a
standard. But what are we going to do with that?”
KFC has even tapped into the halal food market in Malaysia. Photo: AFP
COMPETITION NEXT DOOR
Indonesia is Malaysia’s neighbour and the world’s most populous Muslim nation – with 264
million citizens. And it has recently taken its own steps to embrace expanded halal
certi cation.
President Joko Widodo last month moved to implement a law requiring all food, drinks,
pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to be certi ed halal or carry a stamp making clear they are not.
The regulation requires separate production and handling of halal and non-halal products,
including separate equipment, transport and storage.
Last year, electronics giant Sharp released Indonesia’s rst halal-certi ed refrigerator,
designed to provide customers “with a sense of security and comfort”, according to the
promotional materials. However, some observers suggested this was a bridge too far in the
expanded de nition of halal.
No halal, please: meet China’s pig vigilantes

[9]
Also, according to some halal advocates, the Indonesian law places an undue burden on
businesses – particularly smaller ones – which make consumer products.
“The state should support small and medium-sized enterprises in shouldering the cost of halal
certi cation,” said Ikhsan Abdullah, executive director of Indonesia Halal Watch.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which implements halal certi cation, is led by
Indonesian Vice-President Maruf Amin, and Indonesian news site Tirto estimated that MUI
could have made US$8.8 million from halal-certi cation fees in just four years.
Malaysia may have set the pace in its e orts to become the region’s halal hub – but Indonesia
is closing fast. ■
Source URL: https://scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3015609/islam-friendly-

coconuts-has-malaysias-halal-drive-gone-too-far
Links
[1] https://www.scmp.com/topics/malaysia
[2] https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3015610/going-global-could-
halal-be-next-kosher
[3] https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/2178098/happy-halaldays-
how-asia-became-tourist-mecca-muslims
[4] https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink
[5] https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/2189257/asias-
vegetarian-culture-fuelled-global-trend-going
[6] https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/2177964/halal-dim-sum-
airport-prayer-rooms-how-hong-kong-japan
[7] https://www.scmp.com/topics/religion
[8] https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/2092664/why-are-so-many-muslims-
suddenly-visiting-japan
[9] https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2185350/no-halal-please-meet-
chinas-pig-vigilantes

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6/30/2019 Islam-friendly coconuts: has Malaysia’s halal drive gone too far?

| South China Morning Post

Islam-friendly coconuts: has Malaysia’s

Going global: could halal be the next kosher?

Muslim workers in a halal food-processing facility. Photo: Shutterstock

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) is one of several government

Happy halaldays: how Asia became a tourist Mecca for Muslims

Halal is beyond food and

BUILDING THE BRAND

“Malaysia is a pioneer in developing and implementing international halal standards,” Azmin

Asia’s vegetarian culture: does going meatless make sense?

CCM Duopharma Biotech, the largest pharmaceutical company in Malaysia by volume of

Why are so many Muslims suddenly visiting Japan?

COMPETITION NEXT DOOR

No halal, please: meet China’s pig vigilantes

Source URL: https://scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3015609/islam-friendly-

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