𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆

In economics, halal should be beyond food. This is what I gathered from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s thought when he gave a speech at Global Halal Summit. He made three important points.

First, “maqasid syariah” (higher purpose) shapes not only the halal sector but a cross-cutting paradigm shift. Islamic finance shouldn’t just be about the avoidance of riba (interest) but strive for a more just and equitable financial system.

In the context of halal development, halal certification shouldn’t just be about food not being haram but moves towards the idea of “halalan toyyiban”, which aspires to see halal certified food as clean and even nutritious food both in the minds of the public and in its actual practice.

Going deeper than just labels and stressing on the primacy of higher purpose run through the Prime Minister’s thinking, and hopefully shape much better public policy and economic outcomes for the wider population than under the previous administrations.

Second, Malaysia’s high standards of halal certification has received global praises from both global leaders and Muslim consumers around the world. Yet, Anwar pointed out that high standards of Malaysia’s halal certification must be efficiently issued, and more importantly, be linked to a robust industrial development programme.

For him, there is no point if we don’t turn our advantage of halal certification into industrial development.

Third, the problem of working in silos. One hopes that the Unity Government will be able to institutionalise a more collaborative public sector culture to reap the benefits of “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approaches.

There is a need for ministries and agencies not to act in silos but work in concert to promote halal industrial development, as well as in all other economic activities. The Prime Minister has tasked his deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to oversee a holistic approach towards halal development.