THE Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is ready to collaborate and offer expertise in halal certification to Japan, which will host the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Jakim Halal Hub Division director Sirajuddin Suhaimee said the collaboration was to help in the preparation of halal food for athletes competing in the Olympics.

This follows Prime Minister Najib Razak’s meeting with his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo on November 20 last year, where the matter was brought up.

“Jakim is ready to send officials to provide training and update the criteria used to produce halal food. The collaboration is a golden opportunity for Jakim to further promote Malaysia’s halal certification globally,” he told reporters after a meeting between the Perlis delegation to Japan, led by Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, and the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics organising committee at Toranomon Hills Mori Tower in Tokyo yesterday.

The Games’ chief operations officer, Yukihiko Nunomura, headed the Japanese delegation during the meeting.

Malaysian Ambassador to Japan Ahmad Izlan Idris and officers from the Halal Japan Corporation, headed by Hirobumi Ohsato, were present.

During the meeting, Sirajuddin briefed the Japanese delegation on Jakim’s halal certification, which is being used in 41 countries.

He said currently, two slaughterhouses in Okayama had received Jakim’s halal certification, and the animals slaughtered there were also exported to Malaysia.

“Though Jakim is satisfied with the cleanliness of food products manufactured by Japanese traders according to the requirements of Islam, the shariah aspect is not complete and this is one area where our expertise is needed.” – Bernama, November 16, 2017.