Minister of Sarawak: Halal Certificates Related to Food Hygiene and Safety

Kuching, MINA – Obtaining halal certificates was not only to comply with sharia law, but most was importantly guarantee for food safety and cleanliness, said Minister of Virtue, Community Welfare, Women, Family and Child Development Sarawak, Malaysia, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.

She said that after handing over the halal certificate to G.C Coffee House’s Dapur Nyonya in Kuching, Malaysia.

“Having a halal certificate actually involves food safety and cleanliness, starting from raw materials for cooking and to the dining table,” she said as quoted by Borneo Post Online, Tuesday.

By having a halal label, consumers do not need to worry about food, because the preparation is in accordance with sharia law.

Fatimah also said, in addition to obtain halal certificates from the Sarawak Islamic Religion Department (JAIS), food operators had to get approval from the Ministry of Health to ensure the food properly.

She also advised Muslim food operators to get halal certificates and did not assume that just because they are Muslims and had prepared their food in a ‘halal’ way, they could be free from the obligation of halal certificates.

“There is no doubt but not easy to get a halal certificate, because it involves checks from various officers,” he said.

The Nyonya Kitchen Owner, Noraidah Abdullah said it was important for her business to have a halal certificate, it is not only to attract Muslim customers, but to ensure the food was safe for everyone. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)