Melaka: Melaka will establish a State Halal Industry Development Council (MPIH Melaka) as its main coordinating body to comprehensively streamline all technical agencies and halal-related industries in the state. Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh announced this initiative to ensure an orderly and high-impact development of the state’s halal industry.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this strategic move aligns with the Federal-Level Halal Industry Development Council’s aspirations under the Halal Industry Master Plan 2030 (HIMP 2030), which mandates each state to have its own halal regulatory structure. The council aims to make Melaka the main coordinating center and bolster its position as a regional halal center, leveraging its status as a ‘Muslim Friendly Tourism State.’ It is expected to expedite investor entry and halal certification approvals by reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
The announcement was made during the launch of the Melaka International Halal Festival (MIHF) 2025 at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh. Present at the event were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar and delegates from the Informal Meeting of the Ministers of Religion of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS).
Ab Rauf revealed that the Melaka government is collaborating with a private company to develop Phase 2 of the Melaka Halal Hub on a 42-hectare piece of land. This development is a continuation of Phase 1 of the Halal Hub in Serkam, Jasin, and aims to attract both domestic and international investors, with completion expected in 2027.
The state government, through MIHF 2025, has extended an invitation to domestic and international investors, manufacturers, distributors, and researchers to become strategic partners in developing a global halal ecosystem from Melaka. Ab Rauf emphasized that Melaka was ahead of many other states, having established the Melaka Halal Hub in 2000 to empower Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs. The state has emerged as the most active in complying with halal standards in Malaysia, with 400 companies receiving halal certification from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) to date.
The Melaka Halal Hub is situated in an industrial area housing 147 ready-built factory concept premises and three SME industrial areas with 147 business premises, making it one of the most organized halal clusters in Malaysia. Industry players have the option to build a factory directly on the industrial site or purchase completed premises to expedite operations without bureaucratic delays.
Additionally, the state provides various support services, including rental premises, guidance courses, and technical services, to facilitate the efficient and cost-effective acquisition of halal certification.