Citation:

Zamri Miskam, Mohamad Idrakisyah, Hairin Nisa Meor Nordin, Nur Qamarina Khairulanuar, Anis Shafiqah Mohd Saidun, Ashvanie Menon. "A Foundational Evaluation of Cold Chain Halal Logistics Practices among Small and Medium Food Enterprises in Selangor, Malaysia" International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 128-135, 2026. Crossref. http://doi.org/10.56472/25835238/IRJEMS-V5I4P116

Abstract:

Malaysia's halal food sector is expanding rapidly, yet small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face considerable difficulty in preserving halal integrity across cold chain operations. This paper presents a foundational assessment of cold chain halal logistics practices among halal certified SME food operators in Selangor, Malaysia's most industrialized state. Despite Selangor hosting the highest concentration of halal certified SMEs nationwide, no recent quantitative study has measured their compliance with the MS2400 2:2019 Halal Logistics Standard. To address this gap, the study employed a cross-sectional quantitative survey design. Data were collected from 150 randomly selected halal-certified SME food manufacturers across five districts (Petaling, Hulu Langat, Klang, Gombak, and Sepang), using a structured questionnaire divided into demographics, cold chain practices, MS2400 2:2019 compliance, and implementation barriers. The final response rate was 72% (108 completed questionnaires). Descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi square, Mann Whitney U) were applied using SPSS version 29. The results reveal that overall compliance with MS2400 2:2019 is only 47.3%, with the lowest scores in temperature control (38.7% compliance) and personnel training (39.8%). Specific gaps include a lack of real time temperature monitoring (84.3% non-compliant), shared cold storage with non halal products (63.0%), and no documented halal logistics training (72.2%). Financial barriers (high equipment costs, 85.2%) and knowledge barriers (low standard awareness, 77.8%) are the primary obstacles. Firm size shows a significant relationship with compliance (p=0.012), with medium sized SMEs performing better than micro and small firms, but years in operation does not. The study contributes a baseline compliance scorecard, empirical evidence of the firm size compliance link, and actionable recommendations for policymakers, halal authorities, and industry associations. Without targeted financial and educational interventions, the integrity of halal certified products in the cold chain cannot be assured, risking consumer confidence and Malaysia's halal hub ambitions.

References:

[1] Ab Talib, M. S., & Ai Chin, T. (2018). Halal logistics in Malaysia: A SWOT analysis. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 9(2), 402-421.
[2] Abdul Rahman, N. A., Mohammad, M. F., Rahim, S. A., & Ahmad, M. F. (2021). Halal cold chain management among small and medium enterprises in Malaysia. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 10(3), 45-56.
[3] Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
[4] Department of Standards Malaysia. (2019). *MS2400-2:2019 Halal logistics – Part 2: Warehousing and transportation* (2nd ed.). Standards Malaysia.
[5] Hassan, M. H., Zailani, S., & Rahman, M. K. (2023). Cold chain challenges for halal-certified SMEs in the Klang Valley. Journal of Halal Supply Chain Management, 4(1), 12-28.
[6] JAKIM. (2025). Halal Malaysia directory 2025. Department of Islamic Development Malaysia.
[7] Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607-610.
[8] Mohamed, N. A., Talib, M. S. A., & Zainal, N. (2022). MS2400 compliance among halal-certified SMEs: A preliminary assessment. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 13(8), 1723-1742.
[9] Ngah, A. H., Zainuddin, Y., & Thurasamy, R. (2019). Halal logistics adoption among food manufacturers in Malaysia: A resource-based view. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 10(4), 1213-1233.
[10] Rahman, F. A., Ahmad, N., & Abdullah, Z. (2021). Halal logistics standard awareness among Malaysian SMEs. Malaysian Journal of Consumer and Family Economics, 26, 87-104.
[11] Selangor State Government. (2023). Selangor Halal Action Plan 2025. Selangor Halal Bureau.
[12] SME Corp Malaysia. (2024). SME definition guidelines. SME Corporation Malaysia.
[13] Taber, K. S. (2018). The use of Cronbach's alpha when developing and reporting research instruments in science education. Research in Science Education, 48(6), 1273-1296.
[14] Talib, M. S. A., Hamid, A. B. A., & Chin, T. A. (2020). Halal logistics implementation in Malaysia: A proposed framework. International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 35(4), 477-502.
[15] Tieman, M. (2021). Halal logistics: Practices and challenges. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 12(8), 1523-1543.
[16] Zailani, S., Iranmanesh, M., Aziz, A. A., & Kanapathy, K. (2020). Cold chain halal logistics in Malaysia: Determinants of adoption. British Food Journal, 122(12), 3871-3888.

Keywords:

Halal Logistics, Cold Chain, SME Food Industry, Selangor, Halal Integrity, MS2400 2:2019.