KUCHING: After two decades of serving Chinese Muslim cuisine in Kuching, iCafe Sarawak Chinese Muslim Seafood has reached a significant milestone with the official recognition of its halal status.
The restaurant received its Halal Certificate during a Majlis Doa Selamat dan Simbolik Penyerahan Sijil Halal officiated by Ustaz Jamaludin Taim, Head of the Halal Division, Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS), today.
Owner Muhammad Lukas Lim Abdullah said obtaining the certification was a meaningful achievement for the restaurant, which had been operating according to halal practices for about 20 years despite not previously holding formal certification.
He said the application process took about a year and required the restaurant to strengthen several aspects of its operations, particularly in maintaining cleanliness, kitchen hygiene, staff practices and the proper storage of raw materials.
“We have followed the halal way for the past 20 years, but there was no Halal Certificate. Alhamdulillah, today I am happy to receive it,” he said.
Lukas said the restaurant had also reviewed its sourcing practices, including ensuring ingredients such as beef and chicken were obtained from appropriate halal sources.
“The challenge is that I have to follow the SOP for cleaning and take care of my employees, their clothes, nails and the kitchen. I always have to clean and make sure the raw materials are kept properly,” he said.
He acknowledged that obtaining the certification was only the beginning, as maintaining the required standards would require continuous attention to hygiene, food storage, kitchen operations and staff compliance.
“It is difficult to get the Halal Certificate, but it is also difficult to maintain it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jamaludin said halal certification should not be viewed solely as confirmation that food was halal, but also as an instrument to ensure quality, food safety and proper hygiene.
Jamaludin added that entrepreneurs seeking halal certification can obtain guidance and training from the relevant government agencies to better understand the requirements and facilitate the application process.
Lucas said he hoped the certification would encourage more Muslims to dine at iCafe while also attracting tourists seeking halal Chinese cuisine in Sarawak.
According to Lukas, the restaurant also plans to move to a larger premise within the next two to three years as part of its future expansion plans.
