KUALA LUMPUR — Amid growing scrutiny over food safety and religious compliance in the nation’s supply chain, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) has revealed that only 221 slaughterhouse premises nationwide currently hold official Malaysian Halal Certification. The figures, disclosed by JAKIM Director-General Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee, have reignited a heated national debate over whether the government should abandon its long-standing voluntary framework and make halal certification compulsory for all slaughterhouses.
The revelations come on the heels of a high-profile enforcement raid late last month at an uncertified poultry processing plant in Puchong, Selangor. The operation uncovered severe breaches of both hygiene standards and Islamic slaughtering requirements, shocking consumers, restaurant operators, and industry stakeholders alike. While the government continues to defend the voluntary nature of the certification scheme—reaffirming a Cabinet decision originally reached in 2024—policymakers, religious authorities, and industry observers remain deeply divided over the adequacy of current oversight.
According to data provided by JAKIM to the New Straits Times, the distribution of certified slaughterhouses varies widely across the country, with Kuala Lumpur recording a mere four certified premises. This places the federal capital as the second-lowest jurisdiction nationwide, trailing only Perlis. Under current regulations, slaughterhouse certification remains strictly voluntary, though uncertified operators are legally barred from utilizing the official Malaysian Halal logo or making any claims that suggest formal certification.
The fragility of the current system was thrust into the spotlight on October 30, when enforcement officers descended upon the uncertified Puchong facility. According to statements from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) and federal law enforcement agencies, the plant operated without a visible signboard and processed staggering volumes of poultry outside the bounds of Sharia compliance and standard regulatory oversight.
Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad, director of JAIS, reported that enforcement personnel discovered 12 workers slaughtering chickens in direct violation of Islamic requirements. Investigators revealed that the slaughtering process was taking place after the birds had already died from electrical water stunning—a critical infraction rendering the meat non-halal. Furthermore, checks by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) confirmed that the facility had never applied for SPHM (Malaysian Halal Slaughterhouse Scheme) certification, nor was there any record of approved slaughterer accreditation on file.
The scale of the illicit operation alarmed authorities. Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim, deputy director of operations for the Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department, noted that the facility’s heavy machinery possessed the capacity to process upwards of 40,000 chickens daily. Operational assessments revealed that the electrical water-stunning equipment was running at voltages between 60 and 130 volts—drastically exceeding the strict JAIS safety and compliance limit of below 10 volts. Despite prior notices and formal reminders issued by JAKIM urging compliance, the plant continued to operate in defiance of regulatory guidelines.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali subsequently announced that authorities seized more than 6.5 tonnes of raw chicken from the site, with an estimated market value of RM85,400. While investigations led by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) and JAKIM remain active, the incident has exposed significant vulnerabilities in how uncertified entities interact with the commercial food supply chain.
Puchong Plant Had No Certificate and No Application on File
The fallout from the Puchong raid immediately triggered renewed calls from various quarters for sweeping regulatory reforms. An unnamed source cited by the New Straits Times argued that making halal certification compulsory for all slaughterhouses has become an urgent national necessity. The source contended that 52 years after Malaysia first introduced its pioneering halal certification system, allowing slaughterhouses to operate outside mandatory oversight represents a retrograde step for a global halal hub.
According to the same source, proposals to make halal certification mandatory for slaughterhouse operators, restaurant owners, and food manufacturers were formally submitted to the Cabinet in 2024, but ultimately shelved. The decision not to proceed was reportedly influenced by apprehensions over potential backlash from business operators and concerns that mandatory compliance could disproportionately affect non-Muslim business owners, adding financial and administrative burdens to small enterprises.
Public records from late 2024 reflect the intense political and economic sensitivities surrounding the issue. Then-Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, had floated early-stage considerations regarding mandatory certification for food establishments that do not serve pork or alcohol. However, the proposal met with immediate resistance from business associations and political figures.
DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok publicly warned that enforcing mandatory certification would place an undue financial and operational burden on small and medium enterprises. Representatives from the food and beverage sector similarly voiced concerns over high compliance costs and rigorous administrative hurdles. Amid mounting pressure, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for a comprehensive Cabinet review. On September 18, 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi officially announced that halal certification would remain voluntary for industry players, a position formally codified in written parliamentary records the following month.
MAIS and the Religious Affairs Minister Draw Different Lessons
The recent Puchong discovery has revived debates over the 2024 policy decision, with regional religious authorities and federal ministers interpreting the risks through markedly different lenses. MAIS Chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin directly attributed the Puchong incident to the lack of mandatory halal certification requirements for all processing facilities. Following the raid, MAIS ordered the factory closed for two weeks under public health regulations and instructed local restaurants to immediately halt the procurement and use of supplies originating from the plant.
Conversely, current Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan adopted a more nuanced stance, emphasizing that administrative definitions must not be conflated. In a formal statement, Zulkifli clarified that the absence of SPHM certification does not automatically prove that a slaughter is un-Islamic, but rather confirms that the premises has not undergone formal compliance verification by religious authorities. He cautioned against generalizing the malpractice of a single rogue facility to the entire national slaughterhouse industry, urging the public to rely on verified investigative findings rather than unverified viral claims.
"The possession of an operating licence cannot be equated with halal certification," Zulkifli stressed, noting that valid business licenses issued by local councils serve a distinct administrative purpose separate from religious verification.
JAKIM Wants More Halal-Certified Slaughterhouses
Despite the retention of the voluntary framework, federal religious authorities are aggressively encouraging industry participation in the national certification scheme. Zulkifli highlighted the manifold benefits of SPHM certification, noting that it empowers operators to institutionalize stringent halal control mechanisms across every tier of their supply chain. He strongly advised consumers and commercial buyers to prioritize sourcing poultry and meat exclusively from verified suppliers listed on the official Malaysian Halal Portal.
For operators navigating the application process, JAKIM maintains that certification involves a rigorous evaluation protocol, encompassing thorough document verification, facility audits, and comprehensive assessments to ensure absolute adherence to Sharia principles and technical food safety standards. The SPHM framework itself—administered collaboratively by JAKIM, state Islamic religious departments, and state Islamic religious councils—has remained structurally consistent since its inception in 1974.
Sirajuddin reiterated that regulatory bodies maintain strict vigilance over the marketplace. Uncertified premises found utilizing counterfeit halal logos or making unauthorized declarations face severe legal repercussions under domestic trade and consumer protection laws. Furthermore, compliant facilities are subjected to unannounced inspections. Demonstrating this active enforcement posture, a specialized team from the JAKIM Halal Management Division recently conducted a midnight inspection at an SPHM-certified slaughterhouse in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, to ensure ongoing adherence to mandated standards.
As investigations into the Puchong operation continue under the joint oversight of KPDN and JAKIM, the broader structural question remains unresolved. While the government holds firmly to its voluntary policy stance, the recent enforcement actions have underscored the immense stakes involved in safeguarding the integrity of Malaysia’s halal ecosystem, leaving policymakers to weigh industry flexibility against consumer trust.