September-October. 2025 | The HEALTH
HALAL HEALTH
17 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 emerged. Malaysia’ s strengths include JAKIM’ s global credibility, supportive government policies, and GMP-compliant pharmaceutical facilities.
Weaknesses lie in dependence on imported raw materials, limited upstream R & D, overlapping regulations, and a shortage of Shariah – science professionals.
Opportunities come from growing global demand and advances in biotechnology, while threats such as global competition, funding gaps, misinformation, and vaccine hesitancy loom large.
The discussion then followed, guided by the survey results. Debates quickly grew animated.
Scientists pointed to R & D bottlenecks; Shariah scholars revisited istihalah and darurah; regulators flagged overlapping jurisdictions; industry voiced concerns ranging from Shariah reservations and shifting compliance standards to practitioner acceptance and shortages of halal-certified raw materials.
In response, industry participants advocated for clearer certification frameworks aligned with technical standards, robust supply chain systems to secure halal raw materials, and innovative solutions tailored to halal-specific needs to enhance global competitiveness.
Interactive discussion among participants.
Launching ceremony photo, capturing the official officiation of the colloquium.
KEY OUTCOMES OF THE COLLOQUIUM
The two days of dialogue did not end with abstract ideas. They produced five clear outcomes that reflected both the ambition and realism of the discussions: Improved Knowledge and Awareness Plenary sessions provided a holistic view of halal vaccine development— weaving together national initiatives, scientific processes, and Shariah principles into a coherent whole. Clearer Understanding of Industry Realities The industry forum provided a candid account of financing gaps, supply chain issues, and regulatory overlaps, offering a grounded view of what needs to be addressed. Assessment of Ecosystem Readiness The SWOT workshop exercise validated pre-event survey findings while sharpening national priorities, especially in R & D, raw materials, and human capital. Alignment Between Science and Shariah Participants agreed that Shariah scholars must be engaged early in the research process, embedding halal assurance from the outset and avoiding downstream certification hurdles. Strengthened Stakeholder Commitment Because participants were carefully chosen from academia, industry, government, and Shariah bodies, discussions were constructive and focused. By the end, a spirit of collaboration and shared mission was palpable.
Together, these outcomes marked a shift from dialogue to action, setting the stage for Malaysia’ s next steps on its halal vaccine journey.
FROM VISION TO EXECUTION
Malaysia’ s ambition to develop its own vaccines is not a new development. Earlier projects showed promise but faltered due to inconsistent financing and weak coordination. Today’ s roadmap reflects a more deliberate and structured approach, drawing lessons from past setbacks.
What set this colloquium apart was the integration of Shariah and science from the outset. Rather than treating halal compliance as an afterthought, participants worked from the start with a truly halal science mindset, ensuring that solutions were not only technically sound but also religiously grounded and socially relevant.
Halal assurance was designed to be halal built in, embedded into the research process from the very beginning. Scientists, Shariah scholars, regulators and industry leaders debated and co-created solutions side by side, embodying the spirit of collaboration Malaysia needs to move forward.
For many, the two days symbolised more than just a meeting of minds. They marked a renewed commitment to carry Malaysia’ s vaccine aspirations from vision to sustained execution.
With this collective determination, Malaysia is not merely imagining the future of halal vaccines, it is actively building it step by step towards becoming the world’ s leading halal vaccine hub.- The HEALTH
Official group photo featuring VVIPs, keynote speakers, organisers, and invited participants
Interactive discussion among participants.
" Opportunities come from growing global demand and advances in biotechnology, while threats such as global competition, funding gaps, misinformation, and vaccine hesitancy loom large."