Ijciet 10 02_028

http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/index.asp 231 editor@iaeme.com
International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)
Volume 10, Issue 02, February 2019, pp. 252-260, Article ID: IJCIET_10_02_028
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=02
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
© IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed
SUSTAINABILITY OF HALAL FOOD
PRODUCTS THROUGH THE CONVERSION OF
ABANDONED LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL
PURPOSES
Zulaipa, R
Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA,
40450 Shah Alam, Selangor
Mohd Marbawi, T
13500 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
Hanifah, M.F.H
Siti Noorbiah, M.R
Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA
Mohd Kamal, A.Y.
26400 Jengka, Pahang
Asjad, M.
26400 Jengka, Pahang
ABSTRACT
Agriculture activities play significant roles in ensuring that halal food particularly
staple food is accessible to consumers when there is a demand to fulfill the consumers’
needs. In relation to this, there is a need for adequate land space to make sure the process
of supplying the local halal food products in Malaysia is achievable. In line with this, the
abandoned land should be treated efficiently by doing a conversion to become agricultural
land as to fulfill the consumers’ needs. This paper aims to examine the Malaysian
government efforts in converting abandoned land for the agricultural purposes in order to
increase halal food products. This study involves in-text document to gather the
information, then it will be analyzed by using content analysis and constant comparative

Sustainability of Halal Food Products Through the Conversion of Abandoned Land for
Agricultural Purposes
techniques as well. The study has shown that there is a need for widening the practice of
benefiting the abandoned land to become the agricultural land since it will reduce the
dependability of our country towards the imported halal food products.
Key words: Abandoned land; Agriculture; Food Supply; Food Security; Halal Food;
Islamic perspective and Sustainability of halal food product
Cite this Article: Zulaipa, R, Mohd Marbawi, T, Hanifah, M.F.H and Siti Noorbiah,
M.R, Mohd Kamal, A.Y. and Asjad, M., Sustainability of Halal Food Products Through
the Conversion of Abandoned Land for Agricultural Purposes International Journal of
Civil Engineering and Technology, 10(02), 2019, pp. 252–260
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=02
1. INTRODUCTION
Food is an essential for humankind to provide nourishments and energy. People are encouraged
to have a balanced diet in order to keep the body healthy because once the body is unhealthy,
it takes time to recover (FAO, n.d.). Indeed, the food dietary intake for the Muslims is
considered as an urge (dharuriyyat) and therefore the Muslims must observe their dietary
intake in ensuring that they get blessing from Allah swt here and hereafter. As the prophet pbuh
prayed: “Allah, I asked thy refuge from hunger for it is the worst bed fellow” (Reported in
Nasa’i). With that there is no doubt that food is considered necessary for the humankind to
survive in order to stay active and to live a healthy lifestyle. As the majority of the Malaysian
population is Muslim, there is a need for the authority to take necessary effort in assuring that
the food for the Muslim population in Malaysia is available, accessible and halal for
consumption.
It was reported by the former of Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister
Datuk Anthony Nogeh Gumbek that between January and October 2016, food import recorded
at 38.1 billion compared to food export which was only at RM24.3 billion. This statistics shows
that Malaysia remains heavily reliant on the foreign countries for staple food even though the
country is blessed with abundance of land and natural resources (Nor Ain M. R., 2017). In view
of this, there is an urgent need to improve food production in Malaysia to meet the demand of
the population.
As a matter of fact, Islam encourages the human to be involved in food production through
agriculture in order to preserve one’s life and to maintain sufficient supply of halal food to the
members of Muslim society. This is because the society is religiously accountable to make sure
people are fulfilled with the basic needs (Nik Mustapha, 2015). As Allah says in several verses
related to this matter as follow;
“He is who has made the earth a cradle for you, and has traced out your ways (of livelihood)
thereon, and (who) sends down waters from the sky; and by his means We bring forth various
kinds of plants”.
(Quran, 20:53)
“As for the good land, its vegetation comes forth (in abundance) by its Sustainer’s leave,
whereas from the bad it comes forth but poorly. Thus, do We give many facets to Our messages
for (the benefit of) people who are grateful!”.
(Quran, 7: 58)
“It is He Who send down rain from the skies: with it We produce vegetation of all kinds:
from some We produce green (crops), out of which We produce grain, heaped up (at harvest);
out of the date-palm and its sheaths (or spathes) (come) clusters of dates hanging low and near:
and (then there are) gardens of grapes, and olives, and pomegranates, each similar (in kind) yet
different (in variety): when they begin to bear fruit, feast your eyes with the fruit and the
ripeness thereof. Behold! In these things there are signs for people who believe.

Zulaipa, R, Mohd Marbawi, T, Hanifah, M.F.H, Siti Noorbiah, M.R, Mohd Kamal, A.Y. and
Asjad, M.
(Quran, 6:99)
The verses signify that Islam strongly stresses on making food is available and sufficient
to the humankind through the agriculture. This is because a country will surely gain lot of
benefits if it focuses mostly on the agriculture segment to produce halal food products. One of
the benefits is reducing dependence on imported food which is subject to manipulation and
exploitation in many aspects.
Moreover, since the living standards keep increasing, this scenario has led the price of the
food also slightly increased. Because of this, there is a need for finding out the efficient
alternatives as to assure the sustainability of halal food in Malaysia. Owing to this, developing
the abandoned land to become agricultural land is a good plan that believed could reduce the
magnitude of dependability on the imported halal food. In relation to this matter, this paper
seeks to explore the commitment of the Malaysian government in converting the abandoned
land to agricultural land from Islamic point of view as to make sure that the food supplied to
the Malaysian folks is sufficient, adequate and safe for consumption.
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This study adopted qualitative research methodology to answer the questions in order to fulfill
objectives of the study whereby it applied in-text document technique in gathering the data.
Furthermore, this study examined documents on laws and its regulations, journal articles and
available newspaper cutting that reported on the activities and programs conducted by the
Malaysian government. In ensuring the data collected is credible, the content analysis and
constant comparative analysis will be used simultaneously during the analysis process as to
ensure the results of the study is valid and reliable.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Based on the study conducted on the available data, there are several criteria could be
highlighted as to show the needs for developing the abandoned land for agricultural purposes
in catering the enough, adequate and nutritional diet of halal food products to Malaysian
society. Among of the criteria that need to be stressed on could be highlighted through the
federal and state government initiatives.
3.1. Policy Makers: Top-down Initiatives
Ideally, the objective of sustaining the halal food to the people could not be achievable if there
is an ignorant function of the authority bodies covering the policy makers and government
agencies as well. History has shown that the policy plays important role as to realize that the
food is sufficient to the humankind. The prophet Yusuf a.s for instance when he was appointed
as a Finance Ministry of Egypt, he had established food bank whereby the reservation of food
will enough for seven years. This could be evidenced in the Chapter Yusof, verse 48, “Then
will come after that (period) seven dreadful (years), which will devour what ye shall have laid
by in advance for them, - (all) except a little which ye shall have (specially) guarded.”
Since the successful of the plan depends more on the empowerment of the implementation
from the authority bodies, therefore there is an urgent need for the initiative from top to bottom
in ensuring the realization of sufficiency of halal food in Malaysia. Furthermore, the policy that
is to be realized shall be clear and rational within the Malaysian context particularly on the
food security since it is an essential needs (dharuriyyat) (Azizan, B., 2015).Undeniably, the
ruler or government has a main responsibility in terms of social justice whereby the government
has to put a priority in taking care of the welfare of the society (Batchelor, D.A., 2014). This is
supported with the maxim of, “the Imam’s (head of state) performance is judged by reference
to people’s welfare”. According to Muhammad Asad (1980), the protection of the society

encompasses any internal and external harms that lead to the infringement of the ultimate goal
of Shariah (maqasid al-Shariah). As what the Prophet Muhammad pbuh said, “Behold, your
lives and your possessions shall be as inviolable among you as the sacred inviolability of this
very day of pilgrimage” And another hadith as he said, “The blood, property and honour of a
Muslim must be sacred to every (other) Muslim”. Thus, with the establishment of the
injunctions, it portrays that the duty of the government to preserve the right of the Muslims in
terms of their lives and possessions includes the rest of the remaining five essential values of
Shariah i.e. religion, self, mind, offspring, and property. Therefore, making the halal food
available and accessible for the Muslim population in Malaysia is considered as a priority tasks
for the government since the Muslims are considered as the majority population in Malaysia.
Thereafter, this could be realized through the establishment of the policies related to the food
security by focusing on local halal food products.
Turning back to the accountability of the government to give priority on making local halal
food products available and accessible in Malaysia, there are several remarkably efforts carried
out by the government in conversion of the abandoned land to become agricultural land for the
sake of supplying the halal food to the folks. Among the best efforts is the establishment of the
10th
-year- National Agro-Food Policy 2011-2020 (NAFP) that replacing the previous National
Agriculture Policy whereby, it is believed that it could guarantee the amount of food supplied
is safe for consumption (Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority, n.d.). Baki, B., Azirah,
H., Che Wan Jasimah et al, (n.d.) further asserted that there is consideration of halal as a new
emerging segment under this new policy whereby the government focuses on the recognition
of Malaysian country as an international halal food hub. With this plan, it could increase the
number of farmers that actively engaged in agricultural activities and as a result reducing the
number of ambiguous of halal food available in Malaysia since the element of halalan
tayyibban has been covered under this recent policy.
Following to the NAFP, the Malaysian National Plan also could be a good evidence as to
show that the government is very concerned on the development of abandoned land. The study
conducted by Azima (2007) on the factors of development of abandoned land in Malaysia has
illustrated that the government is committed in ensuring the abandoned land is treated
efficiently for the agricultural activities. The study further emphasized that there were several
Malaysian National Plans involved on the treatment of the abandoned land including 7th until
9th
Malaysian National Plans. The 7th
Malaysian National Plan for example focused on the
management of abandoned land by landlord in trust, followed by 8th
Malaysian National Plan
that involving various government agencies under Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based
Industry (MOA)through MOA Incorporated (MOA Inc) in developing the abandoned land.
Then, 9th
Malaysian National Plan addressing on increasing the productivity of the agricultural
food products by revolutionizing and industrializing the agriculture sector into a modern,
dynamic and competitive sector (Azima, 2007; MOA, 2006) As a result, this impliedly shows
that the local halal food products supplied in Malaysia is enough and at the same time it would
also guarantee the halal food is safe for consumption in the country. This is because there is a
lot of enhancements made by the Ministry of Agriculture particularly in ensuring the
preservation of the food security position in Malaysia.
As a matter of fact, by having policies and agendas that are well planned from the
Malaysian government for the food security, therefore the process of realization the goal by
making the plans into the practice could be easier. Noorlidawati (2015) further emphasized that
the introduction of the food security policies obviously gives a lot of advantages to the country
particularly in terms of food productivity, product diversity and viability of local production.
Indeed, the initiatives of the government by giving an opportunity to the people to involve in
cultivating abandoned land for agricultural purposes provides good implication to the farmers
as well particularly for their living standard. The Department of Agriculture for instance

Asjad, M.
actively encourages the people to involve in agriculture by facilitating the registration process
of the abandoned land for the purposes of agriculture. It was reported that the initiative of
registration of abandoned land as of October 2018 through online have attracted 26 people to
register their land with the space of 44.67 hectares (DOA, 2018). The table shows the
abandoned land that are ready for agricultural activities.
Table 1: Owner’s Registration of abandoned land (DOA, 2018)
NO. STATE LOT SIZE
(HECTARE)
1. KEDAH 4 3.70
2. PERAK 1 0.99
3. SELANGOR 5 2.86
4. NEGERI SEMBILAN 1 0.71
5. MELAKA 1 0.70
6. JOHOR 3 5.72
7. PAHANG 9 14.79
8. TERENGGANU 2 6.37
9. KELANTAN 3 2.75
10. WP LABUAN 1 6.09
TOTAL 30 44.67
Indeed, the initiative of the government by identification of the abandoned land for specific
agriculture could assist Malaysia to produce a lot of halal food products derived from the
agricultural segment.
3.2. Local State Authority Initiative
The initiative of the government that keenly provides opportunity to the people as to involve
in agricultural land could be viewed from the effort of local state authority as well whereby
every state in Malaysia has their own plans and strategies in increasing the numbers of
abandoned land to be converted to become agriculture land. The diagram below shows the
commitment of the government as to ensure the abandoned land is treated for agricultural
purposes and lastly to maintain and remain it for agriculture land.
Diagram 1: Commitment of the Government towards the Abandoned Land for Agriculture Purposes
In view of this matter, there are several allocations of abandoned land are provided to those
who are interested in agriculture activity and this of course could lead to the good implication

to the farmers to involve in the agriculture project. The Selangor state for instance could be
regarded as an exemplary in utilizing the abandoned land for agricultural activities. This could
be affirmed by the budget of 2016 that was tabled by the previous Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri
Mohamed Azmin Ali in which this budget focused on the agricultural crops development
(Ermizi, 2016). Because of this plan, it was reported that, 156 hectares of agricultural land were
utilized for several agricultural products. With this, it can increase the number of food products
with the commitment of the government through financial assistance to encourage the farmers
to involve in this activity.
Indeed, this initiative portrays that the socially obligatory duty (fard kifayah) is embedded
already in the state government plan which is by fulfilling the needs of the members of the
society particularly who are not capable to do this themselves (Nik Mustafa, N.H., 2015). So,
by having the allocation in terms of place and monetary budget for agriculture thus it could
eventually fulfill any important need for survival. This could be done by the support of the
society themselves since the platform already been provided to them to develop. Since the basic
of fulfilling and maintaining the life’s through finding the food that is halalan tayyibban is
regarded as the duty of the individual (fard ‘ain) (Nik Mustapha, 2015), thus the society should
get an awareness and exposure on the importance of the plans already initiated by the
government. This is to make sure the objective of food security is realized. In this context, the
needs for sustenance the halal food to the society is quite urgently obvious since there are many
imported halal food related issues triggered and circulated among the society and sometimes
the issues were so controversial for instance the issue of food fraudulent of food contents. The
recent studies conducted by Nurrulhidayah A.F., Yaakob, Mohammad Aizat, Suhaimi A.R., &
Al-Kahtani (2011) has denoted that most of the fraudulent cases happens today mostly on
porcine-based products in food and beverages, usage of gelatin from animal source which is
not halal, consumption of non halal food additives, the use of genetic modified foods and many
more. In view this matter, it is very significant to have a proper prevention to avoid these
elements happen which is by producing the agriculture food products locally.
Furthermore, the credit also could be given to the Johor state because of the initiative in
ensuring the productivity of halal food product continuously increased. The study has denoted
that Johor remained as the leading state that produces important food to this country including
fruits, vegetables and fish whereby in 2012 the total production represents 70.51% of the total
production of country (Christina Tan, 2013). As a consequences Johor state tries making good
efforts to remain as the main producers for the food production in Malaysia. It was reported
that some 6880 hectares of abandoned land in Johor were identified as the land that could be
developed for agriculture. However, the challenge is that many of the land’s owners do not
eager to develop their land ( Kili, M. F. S. and Kathleen, A., 2017).
Regarding to this matter, the Johor state government continuously offers the incentive and
assistance programs to the farmers as to encourage them to stay productive in cultivating the
land for agriculture. Among of the incentives provided by the state government includes
sustainable agriculture development program, people’s agricultural program, farmers
entrepreneurship program and human resource development program and these programs
involve training for farmers, entrepreneurs and youth (The Star Online, 2017). Indeed, these
programs are very significant to the society with limited knowledge particularly because it
could help them to be more successful in this involvement which is not only for their
satisfaction of life but for the food productivity in Malaysia. This is because the farmers that
involve in developing the abandoned land will be advised on the types of crops that suit to the
land and this could help them to benefit the land wisely (Siti Zarinah Sahib, 2017).
Consequently, the government could ensure the farmers involve in this program equip

Asjad, M.
themselves with the related knowledge and eventually they will continuously be committed to
produce food to the people.
Moreover, the government also introduce permanent food production park by introducing
the new concepts for crops (The Sundaily, 2017). This could result to the productivity of the
food could be continuously maintained and at the same time increase the production year to
year. Based on this occasion, the number of halal and non-halal contamination cold be reduced
since the supply chain of the halal food products could be controlled within this country
(Zulfakar, M.H., Anuar, M. & Talib, M.S.A., 2014). This is because, the manufacturers will
get access to the raw material and ingredients within the country without need to buy the
imported raw material since the production of the raw materials and its ingredients are available
in this country. As a result, the issue of food traceability also could be taken care by the
authoritative bodies at the best manners. This is owing to the halal food products are under the
control of the countries whereby it is well known that when the issues triggered are related to
the other countries, there is a lot of things need to be considered like political arrangements,
economic conditions and many more.
In addition, another action carried out by Johor in maintaining the sustainability of food
supply is by providing monetary assistance to the farmers. It was identified that Johor provided
RM40, 000 in 2016 as part of disaster relief for those farmers who have affected by elephant
attacks and adverse weather as well. Indeed, this action could alleviate the victims affected by
the disaster and it could help the farmers to be more persevering to manage the land for the
sake of productivity. This for sure could help the farmers to continuously supply food to the
nation. Moreover, since the Johor state government is so proactive and committed in
developing the land for ensuring the food is sufficient to the consumers, the federal government
under the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry has provided the good support by
allocating RM67,000 via National disaster Fund to those farmers who were affected with the
drought in 2016 (The Sundaily, 2017). By having a good support from the federal government
particularly in terms of the monetary support, it could give the motivation for the state
government to perform the jobs better. Based on this occasion, it could be understood that the
local state governments have taken good efforts in ensuring that the demand for the halal food
could be tackled by doing conversion of the abandoned land for agricultural purposes. Verily,
with the good strategies already implemented like identification of the abandoned land that
suitable for agriculture purposes, providing monetary budget and incentive to the farmers to
involve and committed in the agriculture activities, and retained the land as permanent land for
cultivating crops as well actually could preserve the availability and accessibility of halal food
products in Malaysia.
4. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, with the initiative from top to bottom that involve federal and state government
altogether, there will be a possibility that the objective of making the local halal food products
in Malaysia is sufficiently accessible and safe for consumption could be realized. This could
be done through the demand and distribution of halal food to the folks from the agricultural
activities that could be catered efficiently by cultivating abandoned land for agriculture
products. However, the efforts as to make sure the realization of the plan also needs to be
stressed on the executor that is society. If the society gets an awareness and exposure on the
importance of developing the land, in addition to the equipped knowledge and with the
continuous support from the government, the ultimate goal of the policy of the NAFP of
Malaysian country to rely on the production of local food most could be realized. Indeed, if
the local halal food products are available and enough for consumption, this impliedly leads to
the understanding that the issue of halal food in Malaysia could be controlled efficiently since

the raw material procured within this country is deemed to follow Malaysian rules and
regulations.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are gratitude to the Institute of Quality and Knowledge Advancement (InQKA),
Universiti Teknologi MARA, UiTM for sponsoring in completing this research. The credit also
goes to Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies (ACIS) because initiated the program of
Pair to Publish, Dr Rafeah Saidon for her kind effort to contribute ideas, and those who
contribute to the publication of this short article as well.
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