Rohana Kamaruddin

Halal development system: The institutional framework, issues and challenges for halal logistics

The purposes of the study are to identify the status of current Halal development system and highlight issues and challenges on the halal logistics in Malaysia. Investigations were conducted through site visits, semi-structured interviews and document reviews on four core groups; the governing agencies, the logistics providers, the port authorities and the industries. This qualitative approach adopted content analysis in order to systematically verify facts and evidences. Findings reveal the government continuous efforts in providing a holistic center for certification, and monitoring and enforcement system. However, the institutional framework has low level of centralization, lacks networking with international bodies and experts in halal logistics industry. The study highlights practical issues and challenges of Malaysia halal development system. The study concludes on critical points for halal logistics.

Halal compliance critical control point (HCCCP) analysis of processed food

Halal supply chains include stages from procurement and preparation of genuine halal ingredients to the manufacturing and delivery of final products to customers. Hence, this study investigates the critical point of processed food that attribute to “halal compliance” throughout the halal supply chain. The halal compliance critical control point (HCCCP) analysis was conducted through observations and face-to-face interviews on selected processed food industry, logistic providers and local and international port authorities. Findings reveal that the identification of halal critical points from the local and international counterparts has similar concern on the issue of temperature control for some frozen food items. However, there are some differences in the areas of handling and transportation. This study suggests that it is necessary to develop collaborative networks among members in the halal supply chains, in order to create awareness, ensure knowledge sharing and enhance required skills.

Acceptance of BR1M: Is it a sincere act or political motive?

This study is to examine the socio-economic background and consumption pattern of rural and urban recipients of 1Malaysia Peoples’ Aid (BRIM) and behavioural response towards acceptances and perception towards government sincere act and political motives. A survey was conducted in Klang Valley and Kedah, where 250 respondents were interviewed via structured questionnaires and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Finding revealed that the main consumption of both rural and urban was necessity goods and indicated a positive significant relationship between acceptances and government sincere act, and otherwise for political motives. The study concludes that people accept BRIM as a sincere government act rather than a political agenda.

Criteria Selection for Halal Casual Dining Restaurant

The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential criteria of halal compliance in halal food supply chain. The criteria explored in the study are the stakeholders in halal supply chain, namely, the authority body, manufacturer, logistics provider, operator, consumer, and the government. A pilot study of 30 questionnaires has been distributed to identify important criteria and sub-criteria. The survey addressed the perceptions of the consumers on halal supply chain of casual dining restaurants, using score method. The result shows that all the criteria are important with at least seven of mean score and can be considered to be subsequently analyzed using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model. This preliminary study provides inputs to the selection of important criteria for halal food supply chain in order to establish priority index using AHP.