HALALAN TOYYIBAN UNDERSTANDING: A CASE OF MUSLIM STREET FOOD VENDORS IN SHAH ALAM

Abstract

Street vending provides a means of economic development and provides jobs which help lessen poverty. A benefit of street-food vending is that it may be a source of inexpensive nutritional food to the customers while it is also a source of income for the underprivileged vendors. However, if it is not handled correctly it may have terrible consequences in terms of health, hygiene, safety and reputation of street food business. For instance, without proper guidance to street food vendors this may result in food poisoning for the consumers and give bad reputation to the street food vendors. As a Muslim country, it is easy to find Muslim street food area in the city. However, the concern of halalan toyyiban foods is still unclear. This study was intended to assess street food vendors understanding of halalan toyyiban in food handling practices and also to recommend ways in which street-food vendors could be assisted in order to understand the halalan toyyiban aspects of handling food. To accomplish this, observations and in-depth interviews were conducted amongst six informants of whom street food vendors, six food handlers (assistants) and three officers in halal industry, public authority and health and environment inspector. The results revealed that mainly food handlers (assistant) take part in this business from beginning until the end of the operations. Most of the assistants are non-Malaysian citizen (foreigner; Indonesian). They work as a means to earn living to relieve poverty. Other identified issues are related to quality and health, safety and hygiene and halal and Islamic beliefs. It is recommended that the training of street-food vendors be a priority not only on food handling practices but also in halalan toyyiban aspects. There is also a need for the public authorities to monitor closely on the operations of street food business so that the license given to the vendors is not been jeopardize by letting the street food area to the non-citizen.