Regulatory Fragmentation and Uneven ESG Awareness in Halal Port Logistics: Qualitative Evidence from Selected Malaysian Ports

Malaysian ports serve as the gateways for the country’s halal trade. Yet port terminals remain outside a dedicated halal certification scheme and are not covered by an integrated halal-Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) governance instrument. This paper examines two issues. The first concerns the regulatory and institutional gaps that hinder ESG integration in halal port logistics. The second concerns on how ESG awareness and understanding vary among regulatory, port, halal logistics and operational stakeholders. Sixteen senior informants were interviewed across three federal ports. They represented regulatory bodies, port authorities, logistics providers and halal organisations. Interviews were combined with documentary analysis then analysed thematically. Three gaps emerged. Halal certification schemes stop short of port terminals. The relevant halal logistics standards are not legally mandatory for port terminal operations. ESG and halal requirements sit in separate instruments, without a formal link. ESG awareness is strong at the policy level yet limited at the operational level. Weak integration is a structural outcome rather than a failure of will. The paper proposes a formal mandate supported by capacity building.