Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM)

The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, popularly known as JAKIM, is a federal government agency that administers Islamic affairs in Malaysia. ¹ It was established on 1 January 1997 to take over the powers and role of the Islamic Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department. ¹

Its Policy Sector includes a Halal Management division, and on 1 October 2003 a new standardised halal certification logo was introduced for all states. ¹ The Secretary of the Malaysian Halal Council, responsible for recognising foreign halal certification bodies, sits directly under its director-general. ¹

The department plans the development of Islamic affairs, formulates their policy and coordinates enforcement. ¹ Its Broadcasting division produces religious programming for Radio Televisyen Malaysia, including Salam FM, launched on 15 February 2009. ¹ In March 2022 Hakimah Mohd Yusoff became its first woman director-general. ¹

G25, a group of former senior civil servants, criticised its establishment as not aligned with the constitution. ¹ The former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad defended it as set up to bring the government in line with Islamic teachings, and the former religious-affairs minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa supported that view. ¹

• Wikipedia, "Department of Islamic Development Malaysia", revision 1355530854. ¹