Malaysia offers to be halal gateway for New Zealand into ASEAN market
MALAYSIA is prepared to become a distribution and marketing hub for halal products from New Zealand to the wider Southeast Asian region.
According to Utusan Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (picture) said this proposal was conveyed during his visit to Wellington, where he invited New Zealand's halal industry players to join the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) this September.
Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the Halal Industry Development Council (MPIH), said the move would help New Zealand tap into ASEAN's halal market, with Malaysia acting as a strategic base.
'While in Wellington, I took the opportunity to push for deeper halal collaboration between Malaysia and New Zealand. My focus was on promoting ASEAN halal products into the Asia-Pacific.
'Currently, two organisations in New Zealand have already received halal certification recognition from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) for exports to Malaysia.
'I've now opened the door for them to use Malaysia as a hub for distributing New Zealand's halal products to ASEAN. I've also suggested they take part in MIHAS,' he said during a press conference after the Malaysia–New Zealand Halal Forum.
Also present were New Zealand's Minister for Biosecurity and Food Safety, Andrew Hoggard, and Malaysia's High Commissioner to New Zealand, Mazita Marzuki.
Ahmad Zahid added that Malaysia would use the MIHAS platform to announce the formation of the ASEAN Halal Council, comprising all Southeast Asian nations.
He said halal certifying bodies endorsed by Jakim would also be invited to join the ASEAN Halal Plus Council to harmonise regional halal standards.
During the forum, Ahmad Zahid witnessed the exchange of letters of intent between Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and the University of Canterbury (UC), aimed at strengthening cooperation in chemical and process engineering, halal food technology, and sustainable development.
Ahmad Zahid also dismissed concerns that Jakim's stringent halal procedures would be an obstacle for New Zealand businesses. He explained that Jakim had already authorised two local halal bodies in New Zealand to handle certification, removing the need for companies to go through Jakim directly.
'Jakim will continue periodic audits to ensure compliance with the standards. But I see no issues — I had discussions this morning with the two associations already certified by Jakim and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS),' he said.
New Zealand's halal exports to Malaysia surpassed NZ$60 million (RM151 million) last year, driven largely by premium halal meat products.
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