Prison in Malaysia certified ‘Halal’

The Marang Prison in the state of Terengganu, is the first jail in Peninsular Malaysia to obtain Malaysia’s Halal Verification Certificate (MHVC), Bernama reported.

The national news agency quoted Marang Prison director Wan Sani Ab Latiff who says the success was a result of the collaboration between the kitchen unit and guidance from the Terengganu Religious Affairs Department (JHEAT) in ensuring all the certification criteria were met.

Malaysia has ‘halal’ airlines, hotels, lifts and restaurants. It had a halal airline which closed down and is still struggling with debts. Now it has a halal cargo company.

Last month, the cargo division of Malaysia Airlines Bhd, MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo) was granted a Halal certificate.

With the certification, the company is ready to tap into the global halal market worth US$2 trillion per annum, now that its halal shipments handling capability is certified halal, says news reports.

The MAB Kargo certification was issued by the Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM), Prime Minister’s Office.

The prison officials says the halal certificate is for the kitchen which was always the target of criticism by Human Rights officials and International Committee of the Red Cross.

The official at the Marang prison says the criticism was taken as a challenge, Bernama reported.

“We took the criticism as a challenge to make a change for the better and the result is that we now have the MHVC, and our kitchen has been classified as very clean (Category A) by the Marang District Health Office,” he says.

As for the MAB Kargo, it is probably the first Cargo Terminal Operator in the world to be classified as a Halal cargo handler from a globally recognised and renowned Islamic Affairs Regulator for Halal products.

The Muslim community in Malaysia believes in strict handling rules for goods for consumption. This has prompted the authorities to look into all aspects of food and other goods transportation that does not mix with non-halal products.

The kitchen in the prison in Terengganu will now serve halal food made according to strict protocols of cleanliness and permissible for consumption.