ABSTRACT
Halal production, trade and regulation have become essential not only to Islamic authorities and companies in contemporary Singapore, but also globally. Singapore exists in a ‘double minority’ setting: Chinese are a majority in Singapore, but minority in the region; whereas the Malays and Muslims are a minority in Singapore, but a strong majority in the immediate region (Malaysia and Indonesia). Through a critical reading of Singapore’s leading newspaper, Straits Times, this chapter critically explores how halal in the Singaporean context politically evolved from being a sensitive Malay minority question to become a major national focus of the market and state.
This chapter explores how market ideology, morality, ethics, power relations and politics/policies of consumption are pivotal to the understanding of the halal market in Singapore. All applications submitted to Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) must be done online and subsequently MUIS look into raw materials, standards of operating procedures and efficient monitoring as well as staffing in that all halal-certified premises must employ at least two Muslim staff members. In the global market for halal products, Singapore holds a special position in that it is state bodies that certify halal products and spaces as well as work processes. Economic growth, the emergence of large middle-class groups and globalization of the food market have pluralized shopping choices, that is, in urban Singaporean shops and restaurants there is availability of a very wide range of local and imported foods. MUIS is the state Islamic institution and its main decision-making body is the council headed by a president.
