The Image of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia

Abstract

This article intended to examine the image of the principal Islamic institution in this country held by the general public, which is the Department of Islamic Development, Malaysia or JAKIM. JAKIM is the institution responsible for managing the affairs of Muslims in Malaysia, including the assurance of halal foodstuff for Muslims in Malaysia in the form of issuing halal certifications. Halal certification, which is supervised and issued by JAKIM, has put Malaysia on the world map, especially in reference to the halal industry. Hence, what is the image of JAKIM as an Islamic institution responsible for managing Islamic affairs and Muslims in this country? The online survey method was applied and involved 473 samples. The findings contradicted mainstream thinking, which indicated that Islamic institutions are not very relevant in the ‘Malaysia Baharu’ context and the contemporary society.