Mara, Jakim out to train more officers to become halal auditors

SIBU (Sept 29): Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) are collaborating in a programme to train more than 20 Mara officers to become halal auditors.

According to Mara deputy director-general (entrepreneurship) Dato Zulfikri Osman, this collaboration is aimed at assisting Jakim in expediting the process of issuing halal certificates to the applicants, especially the entrepreneurs under Mara.

“We know that there are many entrepreneurs, especially the Bumiputera ones under Mara, who are applying for halal certification.

“Based on our records, every year on average, we have more than 100 Mara entrepreneurs who apply for grants meant for them to obtain halal certification,” he told reporters when met after the launch of ‘Hit Barber Classic’ at Arked Mara yesterday.

Adding on, Zulfikri said the number of applicants could be higher as there were Mara entrepreneurs who applied for the certification using their own funds.

On the collaboration with Jakim, he said in 2022, the two agencies had worked together in a programme meant to train halal executives.

On another subject, Zulfikri called upon Bumiputera micro entrepreneurs in the services industry to venture further.

“The barbershop business is a low-risk business, but it is one that promises good income if good efforts are put into it, alongside having a good marketing plan.

“It is a business that can be a lucrative source of income, or even make you a millionaire if you put much effort into it,” he said.

In this regard, Zulfikri said it had always been Mara’s aspiration to see the local entrepreneurs expand their businesses to increase profits and also reach new customers.

On the ‘Hit Barber’ brand, he said the Hit Barber Classic (for men) and Hit Stylista (for women) were the two brands established by Mara several years back, and now, they serve as platforms for the young people to venture into the hairstyling industry.

“By building human capital and providing business support and facilities, Mara is the only organisation in Malaysia that has the complete ecosystem to help entrepreneurs grow their business.

“In the education sector, we have a total of 344 Mara institutions, ranging from schools, colleges, as well as technical and vocational education training (TVET) institutes and universities.

“For any certifications such as halal certificates, Mara will bear 90 per cent of the cost, while our entrepreneurs only pay 10 per cent of it,” he said when highlighting the many benefits of Mara’s entrepreneurship programme.