HDC chairman Khairul Azwan Harun said this should not be viewed as a problem, as these companies have met the standards set by the Islamic development department (Jakim), Bernama reported.

“Non-Bumiputera companies have traditionally dominated the food manufacturing sector, but this is not an issue because they adhere to the standards set by Jakim.

“Applications for full halal certification can only be submitted once a company has received recognition under the Food Safety is the Responsibility of the Industry programme, Good Manufacturing Practices regulations and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point management system,” he said.

He made these remarks at a press conference at Dewan Kampung Pulau Gajah in Pasir Salak, Perak today.

HDC chief executive officer Hairol Ariffein Sahari was reported as saying on Jan 16 that only 9,162 companies have halal certification recognition from Jakim.

Hairol said of the total, only 1,600 are halal exporters, a modest figure in comparison with the current global halal market, valued at over US$3 trillion (RM13.48 trillion).

In July last year, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in the Dewan Rakyat that non-Bumiputera companies made up 57.6% of halal certificate holders, or 5,270 out of 9,146 companies.