A Shared Mission for Halal MSMEs Development

Peni Indrayudha exuded a calm and reassuring presence as he explained halal certification procedures to a group of women from micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) supported by Aisyiyah, an autonomous organization for Muhammadiyah women, in early December last year.

In a classroom tucked away in the Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), Peni, as he is affectionately known, presented a detailed overview of the halal certification process. He covered everything from terms and requirements to application procedures and costs. About 15 MSME owners supported by Aisyiyah attended, listening intently to each part of his presentation with great enthusiasm.

That was our first encounter with him, nearly a year ago. Now, almost a year later, we had the opportunity to meet him again to dive deeper into his ongoing work in helping MSMEs obtain halal certification.

In the Molecular Biology Laboratory of UMS Pharmacy Program, Peni began to share his story. His journey started upon returning to Indonesia in 2018, after completing his doctoral studies in Protein Crystallography at The University of Nottingham, UK.

In mid-2018, Peni and his fellow lecturers attended a seminar at the Siti Walidah Main Building at UMS, where they were introduced to the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrophotometer, a tool capable of detecting pig contaminants in test samples. “That’s where the idea to establish a Center for Halal Studies began,” Peni explained on Tuesday (10/15/2024).

In early December 2018, Peni invited several colleagues to join him in establishing the Center for Halal Studies. The founding team included Herry Purnama, Ph.D., Pramudya Kurnia, M.Agr., Nur Hidayati, Ph.D., Suprapto, M.Sc., Rini Kusumawati, S.E., M.Si., Tri Widayanto, Ph.D., Andi Suhendi, M.Sc., Apt., Dr. Imron Rosyadi, and Dr. Haryoto.

The Center for Halal Studies is responsible for organizing training sessions and providing guidance to MSMEs throughout the halal certification process. They also introduce proper animal slaughter techniques according to Islamic laws and conduct testing for pig DNA in food using RT-PCR equipment installed in the UMS Pharmacy Molecular Biology Laboratory.

As the head of the Center for Halal Studies,  Peni took an active role, creating collaborations with various external organizations. He organized informational sessions on the halal certification program with the Muhammadiyah Regional Board in Surakarta and Klaten, conducted training for halal product assistants with the Muhammadiyah Branch Board in Kartasura, and hosted a workshop on research proposal development, featuring speakers from the Halal Center of Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Peni Indrayudha, S.F., M.Biotech., Apt., Ph.D. Imam Safii/UMS PR

The commitment to supporting halal certification persisted into September 2023, with the Center for Halal Studies assisting the nutrition installation at PKU Muhammadiyah Sukoharjo Hospital in its halal certification process. “Some Islamic hospitals, particularly those owned by Muhammadiyah, are also aiming for sharia-compliant hospital certification,” explained the UMS Pharmacy lecturer.

It's no surprise that other Islamic hospitals are beginning to consider halal certification for their nutrition departments. For instance, PKU Muhammadiyah Kartasura Hospital in Sukoharjo, Central Java, has started collaborating with the UMS Center for Halal Studies to seek guidance in obtaining halal certification.

In early November 2023, Peni and Haryoto attended an international halal seminar at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, with a mission to promote the Center for Halal Studies name on an international level and establish partnerships. As a result, the Center for Halal Studies and Chulalongkorn University signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on future research projects.

Now, after six years of dedicated work, Peni and the Center for Halal Studies have assisted 1,400 MSMEs in the Greater Solo area in obtaining halal certification as of October 2024.

This achievement has not come without obstacles. The lecturer Pharmacy lecturer admitted to frequently encountering MSMEs hesitant about pursuing halal certification. This reluctance often stems from concerns among MSME owners about potentially facing increased taxes as a result of obtaining halal certification.

“In fact, halal certification aims to provide confidence to consumers and add value to products,”  said the Master in Biotechnology of Universitas Gadjah Mada. “Once other MSMEs see their peers obtaining halal certificates and experiencing a smooth process, they too will be encouraged to apply for halal certification.”

Peni is not alone throughout the journey. He actively involves a number of halal assistants from diverse backgrounds, including students, lecturers, and the public. Peni appreciates the dedication of these assistants, who give their hardest work to support business owners through the halal certification process. “These halal assistants are the ones who work directly with MSMEs to help them obtain halal certificates,” he said.

Peni added that it’s frequent for assistants from the Center for Halal Studies to make multiple visits to MSME production centers to encourage business owners to pursue halal certification. For him, this is not a major obstacle but rather a challenge to engage MSMEs in the halal certification process.

Thanks to the commitment of Peni and his team in building partnerships with external organizations, the Center for Halal Studies is now registered with the Halal Center Association of Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah Universities (PTMA) and the Muhammadiyah Institute for Halal Examination and Halal Thayyiban Studies (LPHKHT).

Ever since attending SMA Negeri 1 Pekalongan, Peni has been passionate about chemistry. His chemistry teacher inspired him to pursue further studies in pharmacy. “Just study pharmacy. There will be a lot of chemistry,” Peni recalled, quoting his teacher's words.

Similar encouragement came from his family as well. “You should study pharmacy. Everyone needs medicine,there will always be demands,” Peni recalled, quoting his relative advice.

These motivations led the man who was born in Batang on July 29, 1978, to pursue his studies in the Pharmacy program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, where he graduated in 2001. He then advanced to the pharmacist professional program, completing his studies in 2002.

In late 2001, Peni began his career as a pharmacy lecturer at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS). In 2005, he decided to take on a civil servant (ASN) selection process. Luck was on his side, he succeeded in becoming an ASN lecturer at UMS.

Peni's passion for learning remained strong. After being awarded a Postgraduate Education Scholarship (BPPS) from the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology (Dikti), he pursued a Master’s degree in the Biotechnology Program at UGM, graduating successfully in 2011.

Peni’s journey in pursuit of knowledge continued through his doctoral studies. He reached out to several professors at universities abroad, including in Japan, the Netherlands, Australia, and Germany, seeking mentors who would be willing to guide him through his research.

In 2013, a breakthrough came when Peni contacted a professor from the University of Nottingham, UK. With a scholarship from Higher Education, he traveled to the United Kingdom, where his dissertation focused on unraveling the USP4 protein linked to cancer cells. He completed his doctoral studies in 2017.

Now, Peni has been an ASN for over a decade, and next year will mark his 20th year of service. He was thereby awarded the Satyalancana Karya Satya by the Indonesian Government in recognition of his 10 years of service. “I’ll apply for it again next year,” Peni said.

After establishing the Center for Halal Studies in December 2018, Peni became increasingly busy with his responsibilities as the head of the study center, alongside his role as a lecturer in the UMS Pharmacy program. He frequently involves students in the center's activities, such as serving as halal assistants for MSMEs.

Peni actively advocates for halal programs within the campus. For instance, in October 2023, he and the Center for Halal Studies team launched a halal canteen at the UMS Kantin Tepi Danau. In an impressive achievement, 23 UMS canteen vendors received halal certificates, thanks to the support and guidance provided by Peni and his team.

As an academic, Peni actively contributes to research on halal products. For instance, he presented a scientific article titled “Identification of Pig Contamination in Soft Capsules in Surakarta City Using FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) Spectroscopy and PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) as Halal Verification” at the National Seminar on Halal Thoyib 2023, held at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang.

Peni was also invited as a speaker at the 4th Pharmacy International Conference at Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto (PIC-UMP) in 2023, where he presented an article titled “RT-PCR (Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) Analysis of Sausage and Meatball Products for the Detection of Porcine DNA Contamination in Surakarta City.” His presentation earned her the award for Best Oral Presentation.

Peni using a Real Time PCR. UMS PR/Imam Safii

Since the ratification of Law Number 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Guarantee, the assurance of product halalness has gained greater significance. This commitment was further emphasized when the government established the Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) in 2017.

Halal certification for MSMEs reflects the government's commitment to promoting halal products, especially as public awareness of the importance of choosing halal options continues to grow.

Peni believes that halal certification is crucial for providing assurance to the public. Given that the majority of Indonesians are Muslim and base their daily practices on halal principles, he emphasizes the importance of this certification. “It brings peace of mind and assurance. Moreover, Muslims are required to consume halal food,” he stated.

The halal certification process for MSMEs is offered free of charge. However, this complimentary certification is available only during specific periods and is subject to limited quotas.

MSMEs can obtain halal certification through two methods: the self-declaration route and the regular route via a halal inspection agency. Peni mentioned that MSMEs have the option to utilize the self-declaration method for certification.

The requirements for MSMEs seeking halal certification include having an annual turnover of under half a billion rupiah. The products must be simple food and beverages that do not involve complicated processing, and the product composition must consist of ingredients that are halal-certified.

However, certain items on the positive list can still be used even if they are not labeled as halal. For example, unprocessed eggs, fish, water, and natural spices such as onions, ginger, and chili are permissible.

Product naming must also adhere to guidelines and cannot be arbitrary or resemble elements that are forbidden in Islam. “Names that contain negative meaning are definitely not allowed,” Peni joked.

Writer: Gede Arga Adrian

Editor: Al Habiib Josy Asheva

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid