november-december . 2020 | @ Halal
Local News
09
Halal vaccine next year
Bank Muamalat continues to offer targeted payment assistance
HDC says working with Department of Islamic Development Malaysia ( JAKIM ) and Department of Standards Malaysia ( JSM ) towards this goal
As soon as next year , Halal Development Corp ( HDC ) is almost ready to introduce a halal certification standard for biological products , which includes vaccines .
According to the New Straits Times , the new halal certification standard is related to the Muslim community ’ s concern over the possibility of making the Covid-19 vaccine halal-certified .
The CEO of HDC , Hairol Ariffein Sahari , said the company was working with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia ( JAKIM ) and the Department of Standards Malaysia ( JSM ) towards this goal .
He said while Malaysia had halal standards on pharmaceutical and medical devices products , as well as hospitality and medical services , we still did not have the halal standard on biological products .
“ We do have a holistic framework when it comes to halal healthcare services in Malaysia ,” said Hairol .
“ However , there is a missing element of the halal standard on biological products , which we are working on with JAKIM and JSM .
“ I do not think it will take long ( to develop the standard ) because the last time I checked , it was 50 to 70 per cent ready and we will make the necessary announcement soon .”
Meantime , HDC remains optimistic on halal export value for 2020 , amid the challenging market environment .
Chairman of HDC , Datuk Mahmud Abbas , said Malaysia would not be able to match the last year ’ s halal products export value of
A digital donation platform called ‘ IKHLAS For Sabah ’ was initiated by airasia . com . The Muslimfriendly line of business was launched on Oct 27 , 2020 .
It is as part of its Sadaqah service to extend a helping hand to hard-hit communities in Sabah due to the pandemic .
IKHLAS is a line of business under airasia . com that mainly caters to Muslim communities around the world by providing unparalleled access to faith-based practices . This includes religious obligations such as Umrah , Qurban , Aqiqah and shariah-compliant lifestyle choices .
This digital donation drive will be open from the launch date until Nov 30 2020 , and members of the public can contribute any amount via its website ikhlas . com , as well as via the
RM40.2 billion .
This was due to a three-month halt in trade activities between March and June this year , as part of the global movement restrictions to combat the spread of Covid-19 .
In March 2019 , HDC said it was optimistic about achieving the target of RM50 billion worth of halal products exports for 2020 .
Mahmud said the ongoing global pandemic had created a new set of challenges for the industry to overcome , as well as new opportunities to explore .
“ Issues of governance , geopolitics , technology , trade and connectivity , as well as employment , are all valid concerns within the post-Covid-19 worlds ,” he said .
airasia . com launches ‘ IKHLAS For Sabah ’
airasia . com super app .
Head of IKHLAS , Ikhlas Kamarudin said : “ Without doubt , Sabah has been hit hard by the pandemic . Although various groups have started providing assistance in Sabah , there are still many communities that have yet to be reached and we want to do our part in assisting as many people as possible , especially the urban poor .
“ We aim to assist at least 2,500 families across various communities by working with local Sabahan NGOs to identify groups who are in need such as the underprivileged , single mothers , differently-abled people , local indigenous groups as well as frontliners from all faiths .’
The donations collected will be used to purchase supplies such as basic necessities from local merchants and SMEs within Sabah to help them keep afloat during these challenging times .
Since April 2020 , the IKHLAS sadaqah service has collected RM1.3 million through its first digital donation drive ‘ Give With IKHLAS ’, which has benefited over 15,000 families nationwide .
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad ( Bank Muamalat ) wishes to reassure its customers that the targeted payment assistance will continue to be made available for customers who are facing financial difficulties due to the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic in the country .
The bank reiterated that it was committed to helping its customers through these trying times by offering targeted payment assistance based on each customer ’ s needs and financial situation .
CEO of Bank Muamalat , Khairul Kamarudin , said the bank would continue to provide flexibility and extend temporary relief to customers who are facing difficulties in making financing payments , as a result of the ongoing movement curbs and current uncertainties .
“ As at Oct 21 , 2020 , 83 per cent of applications for payment assistance from individual customers and 100 per cent of applications for payment assistance from Small and Medium Enterprises ( SME ) customers have been approved ,” said Khairul .
Customers who earlier declined the targeted payment assistance but are now facing a loss of income and reduced income due to the movement restrictions are encouraged to apply for the targeted payment assistance , which includes restructuring and rescheduling of payments .
Given the current movement restriction order , Bank Muamalat is encouraging customers who wish to apply for the targeted payment assistance to fill in the Post Moratorium Payment Assistance application form available at its website .
IAMM released 2020 exhibition guide
The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia ( IAMM ) recently released its new exhibition catalogue titled “ Mirrors of Beauty ” on Oct 7 , 2020 .
This yearly publication provides an inviting and accessible accompaniment to the riches of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia collection .
This time , “ Mirrors of Beauty ” brings an outstanding selection of up to 150 exceptional objects . It covers calligraphy , illuminated manuscripts , paintings , architectural elements and many others , which are compiled together in an enticing close-up of the continually diverse and interconnected cultures of Islamic societies across time , space and media .
The 2020 publication consists of 208 pages and selling at a reasonable price .
Most of these publications are catalogues of exhibitions , although books of a more general nature are now being produced . The aim is to support the work of the museum and to improve visitor ’ s enjoyment .