Thu Sep 19 11:47:00 UTC 2024: ## Halal Certification Issue Resolved, Says Deputy Prime Minister
**KLUANG, Sept 19** – The controversy surrounding the halal certification issue has been resolved, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He stated that the Cabinet has decided to maintain the status quo, ensuring that halal certification remains voluntary for food operators.
The decision comes after a public debate sparked by comments from Umno Youth Chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok. Zahid said he met with both Akmal and DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke to address the matter. “The matter has toned down. It has come to a close,” he added.
While encouraging food operators to obtain halal certification, Zahid affirmed that the government is not forcing non-Muslims to do so. He explained that the Cabinet decision, tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, maintains the policy first introduced in 1974 and strengthened in 2011.
“It will remain optional for food operators to get their food certified halal,” Zahid told reporters during a visit to Kem Mahkota here. He emphasized that the current system allows Muslim consumers to identify and consume halal food without worry.
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