I REFER to the comments on halal certification for food outlets by S.M. Mohamed Idris of the Consumers Association of Penang (”Make it mandatory for hotels”– NST, June 18). I would like to clarify certain issues related to halal certification for hotels raised in the letter.
We often read reports that say, for example, that “Only 19 hotels have halal certificates” or “Make it mandatory for hotels” when, in fact, there is no halal certification for hotels or restaurants at hotels.
It is for hotel kitchens to apply for the certification, previously with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia and now the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC), when catering halal food at a particular restaurant or food outlet in a hotel.
The Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners (Maho), the Malaysian Association of Hotels and the Malaysia Budget Hotels Association have made great efforts to encourage member hotels to apply for halal certification for hotel kitchens to provide halal food at designated restaurants.
The hotel sector supports the halal-certification exercise since hotels will be able to benefit from the patronage of Muslim guests as well as the government. Halal certification is a prerequisite stipulated by the Finance Ministry for hotels hoping to attract government patronage.
Secondly, some hotels are accused of not applying for halal certificates when, in fact, the problem is the administrative delays, of up to one year, imposed by the HDC on applications.
Some of the procedures and requirements are so cumbersome that some hotels give up on their applications. This issue has been made known to the International Trade and Industry Ministry and Tourism Ministry.
Thirdly, Maho feels HDC should clear up administrative issues on processing applications, especially when they involve state religious authorities, so it can expedite these applications.
Finally, why halal certificates only for hotels? Why not for all food outlets and premises, too?
SHAHARUDDIN M. SAAID, Executive director, Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners