KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — Malaysia has proposed the creation of an Asean Halal Council to strengthen strategic cooperation in the regional halal industry, facilitate the entry of halal products between countries, and boost intra-Asean trade, which has yet to reach its full potential.

Halal Development Corporation (HDC) chairman Azwan Harun said Malaysia made the proposal during the Malaysia-Indonesia halal industry roundtable session in Jakarta on April 22, which was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the head of Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) Ahmad Haikal Hassan.