August 11, 2010, Wednesday
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman has described the level of halal certification among Muslim eatery owners as ‘pathetic’.
Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman
He said currently 75 per cent of the eateries certified as halal in the state are owned by non-Muslims.
This, he said, showed that non-Muslims, especially from the Chinese and Indian communities, have capitalised on halal food certification as they are more business-oriented.
“Muslim food operators make up only 25 per cent of those who have obtained halal certification. This is very pathetic,” Daud said when opening the Halal Seminar II yesterday.
He said so far 144 applications have been received for halal certification from January till July, compared to 117 for the whole of last year.
“This is very encouraging. We hope this seminar will create greater awareness among Muslim food operators to apply for halal certification in the coming fasting month.”
Daud added that the business of those who obtained halal certification increased by between 20 and 25 per cent.
“Their business gets better because they are not only being patronised by Muslims but non-Muslims as well, as the food is guaranteed to be hygienic and clean.”
He said halal food certification is about the ‘A to Z’ process of preparing food according to Muslim requirements.
“When we talk about Halal food, we are not only talking about food per se but it would include the process of preparing them; from those who handle them (including the slaughtering process), the ingredients in the content, the utensils used, and how they are prepared and served.
“It involves the whole process of food preparation in accordance with Islamic teaching as well as the requirements that they must be prepared hygienically,” he said.
As such, he said, it is vital for Muslim food operators to obtain halal certification.
“I hoped that they will be serious to obtain them. Many take it for granted that since they are Muslims, they thought the food they prepare and serve will be automatically halal.
“This is not the case. I am not saying that the food they prepare and serve is not halal but it would be better for them to obtain the halal food certification so that Muslim consumers will be rest assured that the food they consumed are halal food,” he said.
Currently all hotels in Sarawak rated three stars or more have obtained halal certification.
Daud, who is also Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication, added that his ministry is ready to assist food operators and businessmen who wish to obtain halal food certification acquire grants from SME Corporation.
“Because to obtain halal food certification would mean a bit of renovation in their premises; to
ensure hygiene and cleanliness, it would mean they have to incur extra costs.
“The grants mean it’s free, of course they are forms to be filled, and requirements need to be met.
“But it’s not that difficult to get if they are really serious in obtaining the halal food certification,” he said.
BorneoPost
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