KUALA LUMPUR: Bumiputera entrepreneurs have welcomed the government's initiative to boost their expansion into the global halal export market.
Malaysian Federation of Hawkers and Petty Traders Association president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman praised the proposal as it is a significant move towards enhancing the Bumiputera economy.
However, he emphasised the need for the government to develop effective strategies to equip these entrepreneurs with the requisite knowledge and guidance, ensuring their preparedness to enter the global market.
"Overall, I agreed that we shouldn't just focus on one specific field because Bumiputera entrepreneurs still lack the experience to compete with foreign traders.
"So, while the suggestion sounds good, the question is, how far can we expect Bumiputera traders to gain enough experience to market their products abroad?
"What is needed today from the relevant ministries is a transformation in educating and providing sufficient knowledge so that they don't fail," he told the New Straits Times.
He suggested that for such initiatives to succeed, the government may need to prioritise training entrepreneurs to ensure they are well-prepared to compete in the market.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged Bumiputera entrepreneurs to expand their reach in the global halal export market, moving beyond the food and beverage (F&B) sector into segments like ingredients, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Meanwhile, Syahirah Harish, who owned a food and beverage business in Bukit Bintang, said efforts to expand global exports should coincide with Halal certification application process enhancements.
She said the intricacies and prolonged waiting periods for approval are significant deterrents for Bumiputera entrepreneurs to consider Halal certification.
"The government must push for our participation in global markets. However, we are well aware of the challenges involved in securing the Halal certificate.
"The process can be time-consuming, and approvals are not always expedited. Obtaining the Halal certification is a prolonged endeavour, posing a considerable obstacle for business owners," she said.
Syahirah added that possessing a Halal certification can significantly boost consumer confidence in the products offered by businesses.
Thus, she said the government has to review and simplify the Halal certification acquisition process.
"Yes, the certification process itself is undeniably protracted. Therefore, these procedures must be streamlined to attract Bumiputera's interest better.
"The eligibility criteria for obtaining the Halal certificate and related requirements should be relaxed to facilitate Bumiputera individuals and traders in obtaining certification more readily," she added.
In a presentation during the Bumiputera Economic Congress 2024 on Feb 29, Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Dr Ameer Ali Mydin suggested a tier system and 'green lane' be established for Bumiputera entrepreneurs to obtain halal certification.
He said that based on data, only 3,562 Bumiputera companies obtained halal certification compared to 5,600 non-Bumiputera companies in 2023.
Ameer Ali said that 6,857 are micro-enterprises, 1,155 are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and 1,150 are multinational companies.
