Tun Abdullah Honoured with Special Halal Development Excellence Award at MIHAS 2024

By Subaashinee Kupusamy,

20 SEPTEMBER: Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was awarded the Special National Halal Development Excellence Award at the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2024. The award, presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, recognized Tun Abdullah’s pivotal role in building Malaysia’s globally recognized halal ecosystem.

His son, Tan Sri Kamaluddin Abdullah, accepted the award on his behalf during the MIHAS 2024 opening ceremony, witnessed by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

Tun Abdullah’s leadership saw the introduction of significant halal-related initiatives, including MIHAS in 2004 and the Halal Development Corporation (HDC) in 2006. Malaysia became a pioneer in halal certification, setting standards that are now referenced globally, particularly by Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries.

MIHAS, launched with RM200 million in sales 20 years ago, has since grown into the world’s largest halal trade exhibition, generating RM3.2 billion in sales last year. To date, it has facilitated RM24 billion in trade, hosting 10,000 exhibitors and 7,000 international buyers. Recognized by Guinness World Records for its large-scale attendance, MIHAS continues to drive innovation and growth in the halal industry as stated in The Edge Malaysia.