JAKIM seeks collaboration with influencers to fight misinformation

Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) has reportedly said that it is open to working with influencers and social media content creators to provide accurate information pertaining to viral issues. 

Sirajuddin Suhaimee, director-general for Jakim said that the initiative could encourage influencers and content creators to exercise greater caution when commenting on sensitive issues online, to avoid causing public confusion, reported Bernama.

The governmental agency also plans to utilise its “Jakim untuk Ummah” ('Jakim for the community') podcast to cover any relevant issues. The most recent episode released on MyJAKIM's YouTube channel discussed Valentine's Day.

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Sirajuddin reportedly said that Jakim plans to invite content creators to come together to address any concerns the community might have. In addition, he noted that content creators should consult Jakim for guidance before creating content. This is so that the agency can provide content creators with accurate input.

Jakim was most recently in the news for clarifying a number of issues. One of which was regarding an inspection against the alleged misuse of the halal logo for ham and cheese sandwiches sold at two convenience stores in Petaling Jaya. 

The agency released an explanation regarding the halal status of the doubted sandwich. After an on-site investigation together with the ministry of domestic trade and cost of living (KPDN), it found that the ham and cheese sandwich did not have a Malaysian halal certification certificate (SPHM) and that legal action has been taken by KPDN. 

JAKIM added that the action of printing the Malaysian halal logo on a product label is an offense under the trade information Act 2011. It then advised consumers to check the halal status of a product through the Malaysia halal portal or the 'Verify Halal' application to make sure that a product has been halal certified by an authority. 

This month, it also publicly explained actions taken over an incident involving the cross-dressing of several Muslim men at an entertainment event. 

Jakim is a federal government agency which administers Islamic affairs in Malaysia. It also issues halal certifications and is responsible for ensuring the authenticity of halal products and services in the country. 

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