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SUBANG JAYA, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- The appointment of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) as the sole halal certification body from Jan 1, 2012 will affect the food and manufacturing industry, says SMI Association of Malaysia.

Its national deputy president, Teh Kee Sin, said the government needed to look into the possibility of allowing more bodies to undertake the certification job.

"Currently, Malaysia has seven international halal certification bodies (including JAKIM). Next year, there would be only one and we are worried about this monopoly.

"At present, JAKIM already faced problems regarding the application and renewal of the licences. I guess this may even take a longer time (to solve)," he told a media briefing here today.

Teh hoped that the government would delay allowing JAKIM to take over the job on Jan 1 to sort out the problem via calling for more dialogues with the industry.

Also present were president of Malaysian Bakery, Biscuit, Confectionery and Mee Merchants' Association, Kent Lim and president of Malaysian Seafood Industries Association, Lee Teck Wee.

Meanwhile, president of Malaysian Foodstuffs and Toys Merchant's Association, David Yeow Kock Tiong, said JAKIM must standardise the issuance of the halal certificates in the states.

He said JAKIM's guidelines must be business-friendly and transparent.

"Halal industry is very important to the economy and the government should be more pro-business," he said.

-- BERNAMA