The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is in the midst of drafting a Halal Act to enable it to carry out enforcement on the halal certificate and logo.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said although amendments to the Trade Description Act 1972, to be tabled in parliament this October, were deemed comprehensive, Jakim should be given the power to enable it to implement the regulations.

"We just want to be able to stand on our own without having to depend on other agencies.

"The process of drafting the Act is on. Prime Minister (Najib Abdul Razak) has ordered it to be implemented this year," he said after opening the MABIMS Youth Huffaz Mahrajan programme and launching the Mandarin version of Tafsir Ar-Rahman at the Putra World Trade Centre, in Kuala Lumpur last night.

He said the Act was vital as there was no existing law which clearly stated that other parties could not issue the halal certificate and logo.

Asked whether Jakim was ready in terms of manpower to implement the regulations if the Halal Act were to be approved, Jamil Khir said Jakim might need to beef up its enforcement manpower.

However, he said, the process to establish the law would take some time as it would depend on the approval of the Attorney-General's Chambers before it could be tabled, debated and passed in Parliament.

On Jakim's efforts to ensure that hotels without the halal logo would not get involved in the breaking of fast promotions during Ramadan, Jamil Khir said public awareness was important on this issue.

To avoid confusion, he said, the public could check and download the information and the list of hotels which had been given halal status via the Halal Portal in Jakim's website.

- Bernama