HALAL HEALTH

@ Halal | September-October. 2025

• Halal compliance should not be treated as a downstream certification issue but embedded from the earliest stages of vaccine research and development.

• JAKIM’ s global credibility, supportive government policies, and GMPcompliant facilities— critical gaps remain in raw material sourcing, upstream R & D, and specialised Shariah – science expertise.

• Sharper alignment between science and Shariah, clearer understanding of industry realities, and renewed multi-stakeholder commitment— positioning Malaysia to move from aspiration towards becoming a global halal vaccine hub.

Unlike large-scale conferences, this colloquium was deliberately intimate. Scientists, Shariah scholars, industry leaders, regulators and academics were chosen for their direct role in Malaysia’ s halal vaccine journey. The result was not a passive audience but an active circle of contributors who questioned, debated and co-designed solutions.

Jointly organised by INHART( IIUM), the National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia( NIBM), and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation( MOSTI), the colloquium provided a platform where Shariah integrity, scientific innovation, and national policy converged under one roof.

DAY 1: SCIENCE MEETS SHARIAH

The opening session featured Prof Dr Yumi Zuhanis Has-Yun Hashim, Dean of INHART, and Prof Dr Mohamed Aslam Mohamed Haneef, Deputy Rector of Research, Innovation and Development, IIUM.

The programme was officiated by Dr Mohd Azlan Zaharudin, Director of the Malaysia Vaccine Project Office( MVPO) at MOSTI. Collectively, the speakers urged Malaysia to take a proactive role in halal vaccine research, both for national health security and to position the country as a global leader in halal standards.

Plenary sessions gave participants a holistic view of halal vaccine development: Prof Dr Azizi Ayob( Radilab Diagnostics) emphasised Malaysia’ s target of two halal vaccines by 2027 under the MyPRICISE framework, stressing halal-critical points in production. Prof Dr Norazmi Mohd Nor( Universiti Sains Malaysia)

BY ANIS NAJIHA AHMAD

BY NAJIHAH MOHD NOOR

BY YUMI ZUHANIS HAS-YUN HASHIM

International Institute for Halal Research and Training( INHART), International Islamic University Malaysia( IIUM)

Official group photo featuring VVIPs, keynote speakers, organisers, and invited participants

outlined the costly, complex vaccine pipeline from lab bench to licensure, reminding that vaccines remain the most cost-effective public health tool. Assoc Prof Dr Yasmin Hanani Mohd Safian( Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia) situated vaccines within Maqasid al-shariah, describing them as a collective obligation( fard kifayah) in protecting vulnerable groups. Dr Syed Shahridzan Syed Mohamed( Federal Territories Mufti Department) linked vaccination to Islam’ s five essentials( religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property) while referencing existing fatwas. The room was alive with exchange as participants leaned forward, took notes, and pressed speakers with questions that tied back to their own expertise.

DAY 2: INDUSTRY REALITIES

The second day shifted from frameworks to practice in a forum titled“ Halal Vaccines in the Global Market: Industry Perspectives and Regulatory Challenges.” Moderated by Prof Dr Irwandi Jaswir( INHART, IIUM), the panel featured Azalina Mohd Ghazalli( Duopharma Biotech Bhd), Assoc Prof Dr Zalina Zakaria( University of Malaya), and Dr Badarulhisam Abdul Rahman( Pharmaniaga Bhd).

The forum was candid. Malaysia has facilities and expertise, but inconsistent financing has slowed progress. Speakers emphasised the importance of supply chain transparency— from raw material sourcing to warehousing— and advocated for stronger harmonisation between NPRA and JAKIM, increased engagement with global regulators, and strategic partnerships with international manufacturers.

What distinguished the discussion was its Malaysia-centred approach. Solutions were rooted in local realities rather than borrowed templates, reinforcing the belief that Malaysia’ s halal vaccine ambitions are achievable if policy, industry, and Shariah authorities move in step.

DIALOGUE TO STRATEGY

An afternoon workshop, built on this momentum, was guided by a precolloquium SWOT survey, centred on the question:“ Malaysia as a Global Hub for Halal Vaccine Production: Are We Ready?”

When survey findings were presented, a realistic yet hopeful picture

Group photo of the forum panellists, moderator, and the Dean of INHART.