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Halal Certification Redundancy

While halal certification is a core responsibility of JAKIM, there is already a well-established system of state-level religious authorities that issue halal certificates. Businesses seeking halal certification often face a dual process where they must deal with both JAKIM and state authorities.

This results in delays and added bureaucracy for businesses, with no clear improvement in the quality of halal oversight.

Additionally, some international markets rely on private halal certification bodies, which calls into question the necessity of JAKIM’s extensive bureaucratic control over this domain.

Impact: The duplication of halal certification between JAKIM and state authorities does not contribute to better standards but instead complicates and slows down the process, reducing efficiency for businesses and food producers.

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State Autonomy and Federal Overreach

JAKIM’s central role in regulating Islamic affairs at the federal level undermines the autonomy of state religious authorities, which are constitutionally empowered to manage their own religious matters.

Each Malaysian state, especially states like Sabah and Sarawak, has its own religious authority (mufti and council) to issue fatwas and manage Islamic affairs. JAKIM’s interventions often result in overlapping jurisdictions, leading to conflicting decisions between federal and state authorities.

In non-Muslim majority states like Sabah and Sarawak, where religion is more diverse, JAKIM’s influence can be seen as federal overreach, further complicating the state’s ability to govern local religious matters according to its unique context.

Impact: JAKIM’s influence does not respect the decentralized nature of Islamic governance in Malaysia, creating conflict with state authorities and adding unnecessary layers of governance, slowing down decision-making and policy implementation at the local level.

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Lack of Measurable or Visible Outcomes

Despite its broad influence and substantial budget, there is little evidence that JAKIM’s activities have led to tangible improvements in the sectors it oversees:

Education: The quality of Islamic education in public schools remains a contentious issue, with debates over the relevance and modernization of religious curriculums. JAKIM’s role has not led to visible improvements in educational outcomes.

Halal industry: While Malaysia is recognized as a halal hub, much of the growth in the sector is attributed to private sector innovation and state-level initiatives rather than JAKIM’s direct involvement.
Social welfare: JAKIM’s involvement in managing zakat (charitable contributions) and religious welfare is largely redundant, as state-level religious councils are already responsible for these areas. There is no measurable improvement in the distribution of zakat or welfare under JAKIM’s purview.

Impact: The lack of clear, measurable outcomes suggests that JAKIM’s broad role does not add visible value to the sectors it influences. Its contributions are difficult to quantify, and any positive impact is more likely the result of other specialized government agencies or state bodies.

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Bureaucratic Delays and Increased Costs

The expansion of JAKIM’s role across multiple ministries and sectors has led to increased administrative costs and delays in policy implementation. For instance:

In areas like public health, JAKIM’s involvement in approving guidelines related to Islamic practices, such as organ donation and vaccination, adds an extra bureaucratic step that slows down decision-making, often delaying vital public health initiatives.

The cost of maintaining JAKIM is substantial, with its budget growing year-on-year. This is especially notable given the lack of clear returns on investment in terms of improved public services or outcomes.

Impact: The bureaucratic complexity created by JAKIM results in inefficiencies that increase costs for the government without corresponding improvements in service delivery or policy outcomes. This adds to the financial burden of maintaining redundant administrative structures.

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JAKIM’s growing influence in secular government sectors, such as education, health, and welfare, raises concerns about the separation between religion and state functions. Its involvement in these areas often shifts the focus away from evidence-based or technical decision-making toward religious considerations, which may not always align with the broader public interest.

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While JAKIM was originally intended to serve as a coordinating body for Islamic affairs, its expanded role in multiple sectors of the government has led to unnecessary bureaucratic complexity without adding measurable or visible value. By duplicating roles that are already handled by specialized ministries and state authorities, JAKIM has created inefficiencies, added costs, and slowed down decision-making processes. Furthermore, its overreach into state religious autonomy and progressive democratic government functions raises questions about its relevance and effectiveness in modern governance.