KUCHING: Sarawak has the most hotels with ‘halal’ certification compared to other states, said Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman yesterday.
Seventy hotels here, ranging from three-star to five-star hotels mostly in Kuching city have ‘halal’ certificates issued by the Islamic Religious Department (Jais).
Therefore, he said Muslims can rest assured when they dine in these hotels as every kitchen in the hotels complies with the requirement stipulated by Jais.
Speaking at the handing-over of the certificates to Pullman Kuching yesterday, he said: “After the Pullman Kuching, all five-star, four-star and three-star hotels in Kuching are ‘halal’-certified.
“A lot of hotels in other parts of Sarawak are ‘halal’-certified. I am proud to say that our state has the most hotels having these certificates.”
He presented a certificate each to Pullman Kuching’s three kitchens namely, Puzzle Restaurant, Nu Er Hong and Banquet.
Daud acknowledged that in order for a hotel to be recognised as ‘halal’, each kitchen must comply with the requirements such as the kitchen must be clean with properly tiled floors while the food must be prepared with appropriate ingredients.
He pointed out that the nation had been well known for its strict rules when approving the certificates and in fact other nearby countries look at Malaysia as a benchmark for it.
He said one month is the longest duration for them to issue the certificate as they need to make sure that a kitchen or an eating outlet complies with each of the ‘halal’ certificate requirement.
“After we give out the recognitions, our officers will continue to conduct spot checks to make sure they do not break any rule.
“But I am pleased to say that most of them have continued to comply with the requirements,” he said.
Later, he told the press that 75 per cent of ‘halal’ certificate holders are non-Muslims.
About 80 to 90 per cent of Muslim outlets did not apply for it and he believed that they took for granted – just because they were Muslims, they need not apply.
“Non-Muslims and Muslims are required to apply. However, a lot of Muslims did not bother about it,” he said, adding non-Muslims realise that their business grows better when they have the ‘halal’ certificates.
Daud explained that the percentage of rejection was very small such as because the business premise did not have an occupation permit from the local council. Some gave up as they found it hard to meet the strict requirements.
Therefore, he said Muslims can rest assured when they dine in these hotels as every kitchen in the hotels complies with the requirement stipulated by Jais.
Speaking at the handing-over of the certificates to Pullman Kuching yesterday, he said: “After the Pullman Kuching, all five-star, four-star and three-star hotels in Kuching are ‘halal’-certified.
“A lot of hotels in other parts of Sarawak are ‘halal’-certified. I am proud to say that our state has the most hotels having these certificates.”
He presented a certificate each to Pullman Kuching’s three kitchens namely, Puzzle Restaurant, Nu Er Hong and Banquet.
Daud acknowledged that in order for a hotel to be recognised as ‘halal’, each kitchen must comply with the requirements such as the kitchen must be clean with properly tiled floors while the food must be prepared with appropriate ingredients.
He pointed out that the nation had been well known for its strict rules when approving the certificates and in fact other nearby countries look at Malaysia as a benchmark for it.
He said one month is the longest duration for them to issue the certificate as they need to make sure that a kitchen or an eating outlet complies with each of the ‘halal’ certificate requirement.
“After we give out the recognitions, our officers will continue to conduct spot checks to make sure they do not break any rule.
“But I am pleased to say that most of them have continued to comply with the requirements,” he said.
Later, he told the press that 75 per cent of ‘halal’ certificate holders are non-Muslims.
About 80 to 90 per cent of Muslim outlets did not apply for it and he believed that they took for granted – just because they were Muslims, they need not apply.
“Non-Muslims and Muslims are required to apply. However, a lot of Muslims did not bother about it,” he said, adding non-Muslims realise that their business grows better when they have the ‘halal’ certificates.
Daud explained that the percentage of rejection was very small such as because the business premise did not have an occupation permit from the local council. Some gave up as they found it hard to meet the strict requirements.
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