News From : DagangHalal.com (18 Jun 2009)
KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) — The Halal Development Corporation (HDC) is optimistic that hotes owners will observe the halal requirements to promote and enhance their business.
“The need is pressing. Of more than 2,000 hotels (including budget hotels) in Malaysia, only 195 have their kitchens certified halal,” said HDC chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin.
“At the same time, as part of the requirements by the government for these hotels to obtain functions or programmes to be handled on their premises, they must obtain a halal certificate,” he said in a statement Thursday.
Prior to certification, all hotel premises are encouraged to undergo proper training for better understanding of measures in compliance with the Malaysian halal standard.
In line with this, HDC organised the first dialogue session of its kind today to brief hotel owners on the functions and responsibilities of HDC in managing the halal industry as well as halal certification.
HDC vice president of halal integrity, Mariam Abdul Latif, said the dialogue session focused on the halal certification for the hotels’ kitchens.
Other areas of discussion included the halal requirements, processes and standards, she said.
Mariam said through the dialogue session, HDC hoped the participants will better understand the function and responsibilities of HDC and the halal certification requirements and processes.
“We are also hoping as a result of this dialogue, more hotels will see the need to obtain the halal certification from HDC,” she said.
— BERNAMA