Has Jakim S Strict Halal Compliance Standards Been Compromised In Exchange For Us Tariff Reduction

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ASIDE from the purchase of the purchase 30 Boeing planes valued at US$9.5 bil (RM40.63 bil), detractors have set off alarm bells that Malaysia’s strict halal compliance standards would have to make way for the recent reduction of US reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 19%.

This follows a revelation by Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar yesterday (Aug 2) that the US has requested for JAKIM-accredited bodies to conduct halal standard compliance audit, ie for slaughter of cattle, instead of done directly by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia itself.
“I think the US really doesn’t want JAKIM’s involvement and wants to control the halal standard of their products with their own agencies,” penned PAS activist Nurul Islam Mohamed Yusoff on his Facebook page.


“Who is the US to direct Malaysia to do this, don’t do that according to its whims and fancy? “If this happens, we’ll eventually have to accept as halal if they say it’s halal. No question asked.”
It is learnt that JAKIM would appoint recognised foreign halal certification bodies and authorities (CB) in countries that come under its audit.
In the case of the US, the three appointed CBs are the (i) Islamic Food and Nutrition Council (IFANCA); (ii) Islamic Services of America (ISA); and (iii) American Halal Foundation (AHF).

For the record, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has denied claims that Malaysia has compromised its halal certification standards as part of on-going trade talks with the US.
Addressing allegations that Malaysia would lower its halal standards as a concession to the US yesterday (Aug 2), he also dismissed claims of exclusive deals with the Americans for rare earth minerals.


Dubious halal standards
Nurul Islam went on to express grave concern by pointing to an article entitled “Halal Food Fraud in the USA: Challenges and Solutions” which exposed fraudulent practices in the US halal certification control processes.
“Imagine in the future, meat from the US with a halal label will be floating around the Malaysian market but their halal-ness are not guaranteed and the saddest thing is that JAKIM can’t take action,” lamented the Central PAS Information Committee Research and Policy Department director.
“Pity Malaysians who may end up buying and consuming such problematic meat.”

“This is not to mention the various corrupt practices in the monopoly of supplying halal meat as happened in the meat supply to Egypt. Will Malaysia also face a similar issue one day?”
Interestingly, Nurul Islam further wondered how could Indonesia continue with its halal standards by requiring all imported products to have the Indonesian halal logo beginning 2026.
“Moreover, it (Indonesia) only faces a 19% tariff (down significantly from 32% previously). The US didn’t even bother to touch implementation aspect of the Indonesian halal standards,” he hit out.
“I hope the Madani government maintains the existing JAKIM system to appoint CBs that they recognise and only allow recognised CBs to issue JAKIM halal certificates to companies there.

“This is a matter of Islamic law and religious principles. The last time I checked, Islam is still the official religion of Malaysia.” –  Focus Malaysia

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