Halal represents a highly ethical and cleanliness standards increasingly being recognized globally, expanding beyond Muslim consumers with demands from non Muslims.

It is without a doubt one of the most promising high growth sector next to AI and technology but offers more stability without the need innovate constantly.

My proposal is for us to transition from the traditionally race-based New Economic Policy (NEP) to a sector-based Halal Economic Policy (HEP).

The halal sector is unique in it’s nature, halal has the abiloty to cross into almost all the other economic sectors including food & beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and even technologies like AI.

As an example, a halal AI system can be developed with curated data sets and information fed into it that are shariah-compliant and adheres to Islamic thought and values.

Inspired by Quranic teachings, the new Halal Economic Policy should include non Malay businesses and their expertise in manufacturing and logistics based on merit to further expand on the growth potential albeit under Malay-Muslim leadership as per the spirit of the federal constitution.

But only if their representatives agree to the primacy of the national language, Bahasa Melayu, penalise “Mandarin Speakers” job advertisements and the gradual phasing out of the vernacular schools with Chinese and Tamil language being taught as electives in national schools including cultural heritage programs.

This has the potential to dramatically reduce racial tension and animosity due to the racial segregation system we inherited from the British colonizers that was meant to keep us divides

JAUHARI JOHAR
21st May 2025