KUCHING: Malaysia International Halal Show (MIHAS) should be held in Sarawak next year, said Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
The Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Office (Law, Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and State-Federal Relation) made the suggestion while reading a speech by Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the launch of the Initiative Budget Campaign 2022 held in conjunction with the Malaysia Halal Tour Programme 2022 at Majma’ Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Hall here today (November 8).
She explained one of the reasons for her suggestion was that Sarawak would be celebrating its 60 years of independence next year.
“Why not here? If MIHAS is held in Peninsular Malaysia, then we should organise one here in Sarawak,” she said.
Responding to the proposal, chief executive officer of Halal Development Corporation (HDC) Hairol Ariffien Sahari said he agreed with it.
“MIHAS is a programme held by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in collaboration with HDC.
“That being said, I will bring this proposal to the chief executive officer of MATRADE and we’ll see how it goes from there onwards,” he said.
Hairol was confident that the chief secretary of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) would organise a meeting to study Hasidah’s suggestion.
He told a press conference this after the programme was launched.
MIHAS is a robust marketplace for both international and local players to seize opportunities beyond Halal food including Halal pharmaceutical, medical devices, finance, modest fashion, personal care and cosmetics, green technologies and even Muslim-friendly tourism.
Since its inception in 2004, MIHAS has become an event for local and foreign businesses to thrive in the Halal trade and to contribute significantly to the global Halal economy.
In 2019, MIHAS attracted around 30,000 traders and visitors which resulted in a total trade value of over RM1.6 billion.
