Nestlé Malaysia Expands ‘Halal@School’ with First State-Level Rollout in Melaka
Reflecting its ongoing commitment to community engagement and Halal leadership, Nestlé Malaysia recently launched the first state-level roll-out of its Halal@School programme in Melaka. This marks a milestone in the Company’s efforts to promote greater understanding of Halal values and healthy eating among young Malaysians.
Held at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kerubong, the event brought together over 500 students from six participating schools, who took part in a series of engaging, hands-on activities focused on Halal principles, food safety and balanced nutrition. Designed to make learning fun and accessible, the programme included sharing sessions, quizzes, and a Halal Explore Race exclusively crafted for this programme, all aimed at helping students understand Halal as a way of life rooted in integrity, well-being and respect for others.
Launched in 2018 in partnership with the Institute of Fatwa and Halal (iFFAH) at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Halal @ School is part of Nestlé Malaysia’s broader commitment to uplifting local communities and spreading nutritional knowledge.
Nasrul Hadi Mohamed Nor, Head of Halal Affairs, Nestlé Malaysia, said, “As Nestlé’s global Halal Centre of Excellence, we see it as our responsibility to contribute not only through the high-quality products we produce, but also through meaningful engagement with the communities we serve. With Halal@School, we are able to reach students in a way that is practical, inclusive and relevant, fostering greater awareness of Halal values while promoting healthier choices among our future generation.”
Over the years, the programme has steadily expanded, reaching more than 5,400 students across 166 schools nationwide since its inception. In 2024 alone, three Halal @ School series were held across 23 schools in Putrajaya, Johor, and Kedah, engaging over 1,100 students.
The expansion into Melaka represents the next chapter for the programme, as it scales beyond individual districts to a wider, state-level audience. Additional state-wide rollouts are planned for the East coast and Northern regions later in 2025.
A hallmark of Halal@School this year is its inclusive approach, welcoming participation from both Muslim and non-Muslim students. By encouraging shared learning in a multicultural setting, the programme helps nurture understanding and empathy, while reinforcing core values of ethical consumption.
Puan Rahayu Binti Mohd Thith, Headmistress of SK Kerubong, said, “Alhamdulillah, we are incredibly grateful and honoured that out of so many schools in Melaka, SK Kerubong was chosen as the host for this programme. From the moment we introduced the programme, the students were very enthusiastic and many wanted to join, and even the parents hoped all their children could take part. Educating our students about Halal practices and healthy eating goes far beyond religious understanding, it is about nurturing a way of life that supports physical well-being, mental clarity and moral values. Halal is not only about faith, but also about health, science, and making wise choices for a better future. We believe that through this initiative, we are nurturing a generation of students who are not only smart and modern, but also responsible and mindful of what they consume.”
Nur Yasmin Arissa Khairin Bt. Mohd Raziq, one of the participating students from SK Kerubong, shared her excitement about the programme, “My favourite activity was the Halal Race, because we got to learn while playing and even win prizes! Learning about Halal and healthy food is important because it helps us make wise choices that follow our religion and culture. What makes this programme different from normal school is that we don’t just sit and read from textbooks. Here, we learn through fun activities that help us be more creative and come up with new ideas.”
As part of its Creating Shared Value approach, Halal@School is one of Nestlé Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to uplift local communities. It reflects the Company’s commitment to providing Halal, nutritious and high-quality products, made in Malaysia, by Malaysians, for all Malaysians, with sustainability at its core. Through initiatives like this, Nestlé continues its mission to nourish communities and help build a better future for all.