JAKIM shuts down rumours about Tealive being non-halal

The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) has shut down claims that Tealive is non-halal, after a message circulating on WhatsApp claimed that Tealive's drinks contain alcohol and porcine ingredients.

In a Facebook post, JAKIM affirmed that Tealive is a valid holder of the Malaysian Halal Validation Certificate (SPHM). It also advised consumers to be more cautious before disseminating information from unverified sources concerning halal issues without consulting the relevant authorities.

JAKIM added that doing so might lead to misunderstanding among members of the community and might compromise national harmony. "We would also like to advise the public to be wise and informative users so they will not fall prey to such falsehoods," the Facebook post added. Meanwhile, Tealive also reposted JAKIM's Facebook post, adding that it is "grateful to JAKIM on its quick action to reaffirm its halal status. It also thanked JAKIM for its support.

Tealive has been actively building up its presence overseas, with Brunei being the latest market it has expanded into. It also plans to open two more outlets by the end of 2019 in partnership with its franchisee in Brunei. Tealive also expanded into the UK market with its first outlet in Manchester. A second outlet is expected to launch later this year in London and will function as its headquarters.

Meanwhile, Tealive's parent company Loob Holding is also reportedly planning an IPO in Malaysia that could potentially raise about RM300 million, according to Bloomberg. Loob’s spokesperson confirmed to A+M previously that the company is embarking on a listing exercise, with plans to list in the first half of next year if regulatory approvals can be secured in time.

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(Photo courtesy: Tealive's Facebook page)