ISLAMIC CONFERENCE: Taib beats a traditional Malay ‘beduk’ drum as a symbolic gesture to declare open the Sixth Borneo International Islamic Conference. With him are, from left, Assistant Land Development Minister Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz, Daud, Mohammad Abdul Rahman and Jamil. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi.
IN APPRECIATION: Taib receiving a memento from Jamil (left) as a token of appreciation for officiating at the conference yesterday.
KUCHING: Malaysia must approach the RM7.3 trillion global halal industry in more professional and aggressive ways in order to grow its market share.
Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, citing statistics from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, said the export value of the country’s halal products, including food and pharmaceutical products, was only RM38 billion per year.
“RM38 billion, although a big figure, is not much when the global halal market is RM7.3 trillion per year. Now is the time for us to put high focus in tapping the halal industry,” he said at the Sixth Borneo International Islamic Conference held at the Riverside Majestic Hotel here yesterday.
Also present at the two-day event were Brunei Religious Affairs Minister Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Mohammad Pengiran Abdul Rahman, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, UiTM Sarawak rector Prof Datuk Dr Jamil Hamali and state Islamic director Ismail Mohd Hanis.
The chief minister said countries such as the Philippines and Thailand were aware of the importance of the halal market.
The existence of a halal laboratory in Thailand, for instance, is a clear example of Thailand’s seriousness in tapping the global halal market, he said.
“If we continue to delay the strengthening of our halal products sector, our strong credibility in giving halal certification will be matched by other countries. Now is the time for Malaysia to enhance its effort and open bigger doors in tapping this market.”
One area that needed vast improvement is scientific research in order to, among others, identify more items that could be marketed as halal products, including in the fashion sector.
Taib added that the medical science field too had a lot of potential for halal products as the trend for traditional herbal product had improved in the European market.
“Our (state) research in this field is still in its basic stage even though we have a biodiversity centre. But with strong participation by people who are interested in the practice of medical science based on biological sources rather than chemical sources, we can develop our sources to introduce new products.”
On the halal hub in Tanjung Manis, Taib said it would attract many global halal food and pharmaceutical product manufacturers, but the state needed to produce more specialists in this field.
“Future competitions will be more aggressive as many players enter the halal market. Collaboration between academic institutes, private sector and government agencies are needed to accelerate our drive in the global Islamic products market.”
He, thus, welcomed the initiative by UiTM Sarawak to set up a halal laboratory costing RM10 million at its second Samarahan campus, and offering a diploma course in halal management.