Stamp of distinction

The Star (Sunday Metro/National Edition)

9 September 2007 (Sunday)

It was no easy task but Concorde Hotel Shah Alam has obtained halal certification for three of its kitchens.

IN line with the Government’s mission to establish Malaysia as one of the biggest hubs in the world for halal food, a hotel in Shah Alam has gone through the tremendous effort to have not one, but three of its kitchens declared halal.

Concorde Hotel could arguably be the only hotel in the Klang Valley to have that many kitchens certified as halal.

However, Concorde Hotel Shah Alam food and beverage manager Zubir Ahmad Kehan notes that it was no easy task to obtain the certification.

Certified halal: Concorde Hotel Shah Alam food and beverage manager Zubir Ahmad Kehan (left) and marketing communications manager Zaid Jamaludin holding up the three halal certificates.

“It took about 10 months for the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) to be satisfied with the conditions of our kitchens,” he says.

“We had already started refurbishing the three kitchens to meet JAIS’ requirements two months before we applied for the certificates, thinking that perhaps the two months was sufficient time to plan ahead.

“Yes, our calculation was a little off the mark but we are thoroughly satisfied that we have finally managed to secure the halal certification for our kitchens,” Zubir says, grinning as he shows Sunday Metro the three certificates at the hotel’s coffeehouse.

Probably not known to most, including the writer, a place or food is considered halal not only because it doesn’t contain any alcoholic substances and ingredients that are deemed haram (unlawful in Islam), but because it meets all hygienic conditions as well.

“When we found out about it after we approached JAIS, we knew that it would mean a lot of hard work not to mention a large sum of capital, too.

“Not that our kitchens needed a lot of improvements, but we wanted to make sure that they are in tip top condition, as I am quite a perfectionist myself,” says Zubir.

Strict reminder: Workers are constantly reminded that the entire kitchen is a halal zone.

Sunday Metro was given a tour of the three halal kitchens – the main kitchen, the Malay kitchen and the pastries kitchen.

They look almost the same as any ordinary kitchens, but what set them apart from the rest is that they are proven by a credible authority to be a hygienic place to work in.

On the walls, there are posters to remind workers that they are to be extra cautious when they work, as JAIS does random checks to monitor the progress of the hotel and its halal kitchens.

“The mistake that most people make is that they think once they have obtained the certificate, they are free to go about their normal business without worrying too much about future inspections,” says Zubir.

According to him, JAIS makes several checks to see if they are still maintaining the rules and regulations.

“So these signs are not to boast to others about our accomplishment, but merely to remind them that we need to sustain the halal state,” he adds.

When asked why the need to emphasise on halal kitchens, the answer given by Zubir was surprisingly a simple one.

“It’s relatively straightforward. We want to be in line with the Government’s mission to make Malaysia the biggest hub for halal food.”

About Concorde Hotel Shah Alam, Malaysia
Concorde Hotel Shah Alam is an award-winning hotel nestled in the heart of Selangor. With a privileged view of the famous Blue Mosque, the hotel is just five minutes away from the popular Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam Agricultural Park. Conveniently located a 45-minute drive from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, its strategic location allows easy access to Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur. The Shah Alam Stadium, Sunway Lagoon Theme Park and the exclusive Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf Resort are only 10 minutes drive from the hotel.

Concorde Hotel Shah Alam has a total of 381 rooms and suites, including the exclusive Concorde Accommodation, 55 beautifully appointed Concorde Rooms and Suites and 18 Concorde Terrace Rooms with private terrace on a podium rooftop.

About HPL Hotels & Resorts
Headquartered in Singapore, HPL Hotels & Resorts currently manages the activities of eight hotels and resorts in the Asia-Pacific region, with a total of about 2,400 rooms. These include Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Concorde Hotel Shah Alam, Concorde Inn Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Hard Rock Hotels in Bali – Indonesia and Pattaya – Thailand, Casa del Mar in Langkawi – Malaysia, The Lakehouse in Cameron Highlands – Malaysia and Rihiveli Beach Resort in Maldives.