KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 140 cases related to fraudulent halal certificates have been reported between 2022 and October 2024, says the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
The ministry said these cases involved premises operated by both Muslims and non-Muslims, and items worth RM3.59mil were also seized.
"The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry views the issue of halal logo and certification fraud seriously. it can be an offence under the Trade Description (Definition of Halal) Order 2011 and Trade Description (Certification and Halal Marking) Order 2011," the ministry said in a parliamentary written reply dated Oct 29.
The ministry added that it is working with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and state Islamic departments to tackle halal certification fraud.
In addition to this, announcements through official social media platforms and press releases, periodic checks at restaurants, supermarkets, and processing plants, and special operations are some of the measures taken to address the issue.
The ministry was responding to a question by Datuk Rosol Wahid (Perikatan-Hulu Terengganu) about the number of halal certification fraud cases, especially among non-Muslim food and beverage operators between 2022 and October of this year.