Petaling Jaya, 22 May 2026 – Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC), an agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) today announced the appointment of Prof. Dr. Mohd Afandi Salleh as its Chairman, effective immediately.
As the Chairman of HDC, Prof. Mohd Afandi will assume a significant role in strengthening Malaysia’s position as a global leader in the halal economy, with emphasis on enhancing international collaboration, policy leadership and thought leadership across the global halal ecosystem.
Prof. Mohd Afandi brings extensive experience in international relations, governance, and academia with over two decades of service in higher education and global policy engagement. He has held key leadership roles including Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) and currently is a Professor in International Relations at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA).
An expert in international law, humanitarian issues and global affairs, he has actively contributed significantly to international platforms including the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process and has participated in global engagements with institutions such as the Geneva International Centre for Justice, the ASEAN University Network and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights.
Beyond academia, Prof. Mohd. Afandi is actively involved in humanitarian and civil society initiatives, serving in various advisory and leadership roles at both national and international levels. His contributions include participation in humanitarian missions and global advocacy on human rights and international cooperation. In 2018 and 2025, Prof. Mohd Afandi was among the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) Palestine activists on humanitarian missions, during which he was detained by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean Sea and subsequently imprisoned in Israel.
He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from Durham University, United Kingdom, a Master of Laws (LL.M) in International Law from Lancaster University, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Human Sciences (B.HSc) in Political Science, with a minor in Islamic Revealed Knowledge from the International Islamic University Malaysia.
HDC is confident with Prof. Mohd Afandi’s leadership, global outlook, and multidisciplinary expertise will further accelerate Malaysia’s halal industry development and reinforce the nation’s reputation as a premier hub for halal trade, investment, innovation and centre of excellence.
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