Mapping Malaysia's Resource Centres

82 MAPPING MALAYSIA’S RESOURCE CENTRES DEPARTMENT OF ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT MALAYSIA (JAKIM) Introduction Under the purview of the Majlis Kebangsaan Islam, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) was established in 1970. With the intention of ensuring that Islamic teachings are widely dispersed to society, JAKIM is the main agency for Islamic Affairs management at the federal level. It is also the secretariat to the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs of Malaysia (MKI). With a strong vision to be the leader of excellence in the management of Islamic affairs in Malaysia by 2020, JAKIM seeks to produce management systems based on Islamic values and ethics. This in turn is expected to create competent leadership and produce trained, versatile and dedicated professionals. Area of Expertise In driving the transformation of Islamic affairs management to enhance national awareness, JAKIM strives to undertake its functions through innovative and strategic empowerment of Islamic agencies. Given its extensive portfolio, JAKIM’s key areas of expertise include: Islamic law formulation and standardisation; the coordination of Islamic administration; and the development and enhancement of Islamic education. To support this, JAKIM’s staff subscribe to five collective values in the implementation of their established vision. These comprise dedication, honesty, teamwork, integrity and sincerity. Jointly, they strongly uphold the belief and strive to serve for religion, race and country. Strengths and Achievements JAKIM is the sole agency responsible for Islamic affairs including halal certification in Malaysia. It plays an important role in protecting Muslim consumers in Malaysia and it is always been JAKIM’s responsibility to assure them in seeking halal products as urged by Shariah. For the purposes of halal certification, JAKIM has to ascertain the halal status of the product at every stage and at every process by carrying out official site inspections of the plant to examine how the halal status of the raw material is maintained and monitored at all times. As such, JAKIM requires reputable and credible foreign halal certification bodies to serve as JAKIM representatives abroad. These select bodies are able to monitor and verify the halal status of raw materials and products with responsibility and integrity. The recognition is based on the capability of the foreign halal certification bodies that comply with the Malaysian procedures & guidelines. All meat and meat-based products (including poultry) intended for import to Malaysia must be halal certified by the recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies. The plants must also be inspected and approved by JAKIM and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS); and must comply with The Malaysian Protocol for Halal Meat and Poultry Productions and MS 1500 : 2009. H A L A L - R E L A T E D S E R V I C E S