JOHOR BAHRU: Only 42 restaurants in the state’s hotels and resorts have halal certification.

Johor Religious Department (JAJ) research division assistant director head Yosree Ikhsan said the department would take stern action against hotel and resort operators who offered Ramadan buffet to Muslim customers without halal certification.

He said about 30 per cent of hotels in the city centre had yet to apply for halal certification.

He said they were not allowed to use misleading phrases such as “Break of Fast”, “Ramadan buffet”, “Guaranteed to be halal” and “Food for Muslims”.

“If an operator were to use the phrase ‘Ramadan buffet’, it gives the impression that the food served is halal’,” he added.

During Ramadan last year, Yosree said JAJ carried out enforcement and spot checks and found some operators offering Ramadan buffet without the halal certification.

He said it only took about a month to get the certification but JAJ could speed up the process if operators followed the rules and procedures.

Yosree said he hoped that Muslims would avoid breaking fast at eateries without halal certification and not to be duped by false halal advertising claims.

The Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Act 2011 states that halal certification can only be granted by Malaysia Department of Islamic Development or the State Religious Council.

It states that no parties can make a self-declaration on the halal status or come up with their own certificate for halal status.

Organisations that flout the regulation will face a maximum penalty of RM250,000 or jail up to five years, or both, while individuals can be fined up to RM100,000 or face three years imprisonment or both.

The Puteri Pacific Johor Bahru Hotel food and beverage manager Mohd Shaharin Shariff (right) and chef Norishan Buyamin showing the restaurant’s halal certificate. | Pic by Zulkarnain Ahmad Tajuddin

**This article by Junita Mat Rasid was published by News Straits Times. Read the original article here.