bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
        published
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
        published
      }
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        relatedNewsletters {
          ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
          id
        }
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
  ... on Video {
    youtubeId
  }
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on SectionUnion {
  __isSectionUnion: __typename
  ... on Section {
    name
  }
  ... on VideoSection {
    name
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


types

sectionsV2

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

Hadi Azmi

Aidan Jones

At a bustling Bangkok pet expo, where cat litter from Shandong and dog treats from Japan vie for attention, Malik Abdulbut takes to the stage ready to spread the word on an often-overlooked segment that’s set to reshape the pet food landscape.
His message is clear: halal pet food is not just a market opportunity, it’s a necessity for the soaring number of Muslim pet owners across Southeast Asia and the Middle East who demand high-quality, compliant diets for their pets.
Because the pets’ owners will handle it, halal pet food must be free of pork and its derivatives – considered haram (forbidden) in Islam – and the entire supply chain must adhere to rigorous cleanliness standards.

“The restrictions to achieving Halal certification are a challenge,” said Abdulbut, representing Thailand’s Bureau of Livestock Standards and Certification at the expo.
“With perceived extra costs and confusion over the rules … there aren’t that many pet food operators”
Yet within these challenges lies a big business opportunity. Thailand is already the world’s third-largest exporter of halal pet food, with surging demand from the Middle East, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. But Southeast Asia, where young people are increasingly delaying starting families and pet ownership is booming, comes atop the export list.
In Indonesia, the number of pet cats is projected to reach 5.9 million by the end of 2026, nearly two-and-a-half times the figure from 2018. Cats reign supreme in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, accounting for 56 per cent of all pets, while dogs – often viewed as unclean in Islam – make up less than 8 per cent of the pet ownership market.

Similar trends are emerging in Malaysia, where pet shops are bustling with toys and costumes catering to “pawrents”. The rise of veterinary clinics and cat cafes speaks to a growing affection for felines among young Malaysians.
More than half of Malaysians own pets, a study last year by Hong Kong-based market research firm Standard Insights revealed, with 26 per cent considering getting one. Among current pet owners, cats dominate, with more than one-third of respondents having at least one.
This feline fascination is largely influenced by Malaysia’s Muslim majority, who generally favour cats over dogs due to cultural and religious beliefs – including the Prophet Muhammad’s reputed fondness for cats. The website of Kuala Lumpur’s mufti, the chief Islamic jurist, features nearly 50 responses dedicated to cats, addressing everything from neutering to rulings on whether cats go to heaven.
For many cat owners, concerns about the halal status of their pets’ food stem from personal beliefs rather than their pets’ dietary needs. “Cats don’t need halal food, but it’s about the ingredients, cleanliness, and the need for cat owners to handle the food,” said Yana Zulkarnain, who cares for two domestic longhairs.
Others would feel uneasy if my cat ate non-halal food
Dill Majid, Malaysian cat owner
Issues of cleanliness become paramount, particularly regarding pork – a common ingredient in pet food. Any contact with pork-tainted surfaces necessitates specific ritual cleansing, although opinions about the extent to which this is required vary among different schools of Islamic thought.
In addition to pork, many Muslims in Malaysia view dogs as ritually unclean, particularly due to concerns about their saliva. This belief has influenced pet ownership trends, prompting many to steer clear of keeping dogs as pets.
Graphic designer Dill Majid told This Week in Asia that she feeds her ginger cat, Oyen, halal or pork-free food for her own peace of mind – as well as that of her Muslim friends and family.
“It’s for my convenience in keeping the space clean,” she said. “Others would feel uneasy if my cat ate non-halal food.”

Such concerns are particularly relevant when cleaning up hairballs and other vomit, noted cat owner @ZackAvaricious on X. “They vomit more frequently than you think,” he said.
Malaysia, whose Muslim population exceeds 21 million, stands as a global leader in the halal industry, with 88 countries recognising its halal certifications from the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim).
In 2022, a World Bank study found that the halal economy contributed around 7.5 per cent to Malaysia’s gross domestic product, which is projected to rise to 8.1 per cent by next year.
The food services sector, worth an estimated US$31 billion, is the largest component of this growth, followed closely by halal pharmaceuticals, an area where Malaysia is also a world leader.
However, the absence of halal certification criteria for non-human consumption has prompted Malaysian pet food producers to seek other international certifications that assure customers of their products’ compliance with Islamic standards.

Brands like Powercat, a subsidiary of food producer Adabi, have secured halal certification from Indonesia’s halal board, which includes a category for pet food. Notti, a newer entrant in the market, boasts certification from Hong Kong’s Islamic Food Research Centre (IFRC-Asia), alongside compliance with various food safety standards.
While Malaysia’s halal board has issued certifications for other non-food categories, including packaging and household products, it told This Week in Asia that there are currently no plans for a certification specifically for pet food.
“For now, we do not have a certification category for pet food but it is something we are looking into,” it confirmed in a statement.


For Malaysia’s Muslim ‘pawrents’, halal pet food is a must – in Indonesia and Thailand too

Domestic longhairs belonging to Malaysian cat owner Yana Zulkarnain. Photo: Yana Zulkarnain 

An advert for Malaysia’s Notti pet food shows its halal and other certifications. Photo: Handout

Well-fed cats belonging to Malaysian X user ZackAvaricious. Photo: X/ZackAvaricious 

Malaysian graphic designer Dill Majid’s ginger cat Oyen. Photo: Dill Majid

An advert for Adabi Powercat halal pet food, which secured halal certification from Indonesia’s halal board. Photo: Handout

This Week in Asia

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Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia’s growing cohort of Muslim pet owners are prioritising halal options


Southeast Asia’s growing cohort of Muslim pet owners are prioritising halal options.


For Malaysia’s Muslim ‘pawrents’, halal pet food is a must – in Indonesia and Thailand too

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Southeast Asia’s growing cohort of Muslim pet owners are prioritising halal options

Southeast Asia’s growing cohort of Muslim pet owners are prioritising halal options