Malaysian company launches world’s first halal-certified car wash products

*Para 2 updated with complete list of standards the halal certification is based on

*Name corrected throughout, from Samuel Kek to Samuel Kuek 

KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian company has launched what it says is the world's first halal-certified car wash products on Thursday, doing so out of "sensitivities for its Muslim users".

Professional auto care product maker Chemway Sdn. Bhd. said its products are certified under Malaysian Standard (MS) 1500:2009,  2400-1:2010, MS 2400-2:2010, MS 2400-3:2010, MS 2200:2008 and MS 2424:2015. The standards are for halal food production, halal logistics, and Islamic consumer goods.

Samuel Kuek, Chemway’s Business Unit Head said the company wants to ensure the safety of its products and to gain confidence that the products contain no haram ingredients.

"The auto care sectors use a lot of physical labor especially the upper limbs. We want the users to not worry about the ingredients that might be exposed to their skin or cloths," said Kuek in an interview with Salaam Gateway during the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS).

He noted the importance of cleanliness in Islamic teachings.

The company manufactures its products under the label GM-Tech. Chemway managed to get halal certification for 100 of its products including automobile shampoo, polishing liquid foam, body paint, tire-shining gel, rubbing compound, wax and glass cleaner.

"The conventional products use alcohol and animal oils whereas the halal-certified products use synthetic raw material.

"Aside from the boosting consumers' confidence, the recognition also serves to prove our manufacturing processes are clean and top-notch," said Kuek.

He said there has been an increase in sales of Chemway products after getting halal certification.

Kuek said attempts to get halal certification initially failed.

"We approached JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) twice in 2016, and both times our application was rejected because they (JAKIM) said there is no such thing as halal auto care in the world.

"However, we managed to convince the panel about the safety of the ingredients and we managed to get it in August last year," said Kuek, adding that the process of acquiring halal certification will boost their products for the export market.

"We are participating in an exhibition in Dubai this June. It is a stepping-stone for us to explore the Middle East market.

"So this is an added-value product for the Muslim market in the Middle East."

The product will be available to consumers in Malaysia after MIHAS, which ends on Apr 6.

Other atypical products JAKIM has recently halal-certified are diapers and sanitary napkins. 

(Reporting by Ahmad Mustakim Zulkifli; Editing by Emmy Abdul Alim emmy.alim@refinitiv.com)

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