There are many questions about non-halal lifts in hotels, what is the goal? page all

KOMPAS.com – Uploads about the alleged non-halal labeling of an elevator at a hotel in Malaysia are buzzing on Twitter.

The tweet with the image was uploaded by an activist from Malaysia, Siti Kasim, through his account @sitikasim, on Monday (3/10/2022).

Seen in the picture, the elevator at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pasted with laminated paper.

The paper is installed by landscape or horizontally and reads, “Non Halal Lift“.

“So, a friend of mine took this photo at a hotel. Can you guys (referring to the hotel) explain the rationale behind this?Siti Kasim tweeted.

Also read: Terms of the Ministry of Religion’s 2022 Halal Product Process Assistant Vacancies, What are they?

So, what is the purpose of the non-halal labeling on the elevator?

Hotel description

Reported from The StarWednesday (5/10/2022), the hotel gave an explanation regarding the reasons for giving the elevator a non-halal label.

According to a spokesman for the hotel, it is called a non-halal lift because the hotel uses it to lift non-halal and perishable food ingredients.

He said that the non-halal labeling of elevators was a standard operating procedure (SOP) of the Malaysian Islamic Progress Department (JAKIM).

JAKIM is a Malaysian government agency that regulates Islamic religious affairs, especially halal procedures on food.

According to the hotel, it must comply with the rules for separating halal and non-halal lifts in order to get halal certification from JAKIM.

“That’s part of the halal certification requirements,” said a hotel spokesman.

Read also: All the fuss about Malaysia’s claims over Reog Ponorogo

Furthermore, to reduce confusion and misunderstanding of hotel visitors, his party claimed to have rewritten the non-halal board on the elevator.

“We have rewritten our signage for a clearer understanding,” he said.

On the other hand, Siti Kasim said that the reason for separating halal and non-halal food ingredients while in the elevator sounded unreasonable.

“Why are the lifts separate? Is it to avoid contamination? I don’t think this can be an excuse,” said Siti Kasim.

For this reason, according to him, the hotel should have the courage to ask the reason for the application of the rules by JAKIM.

“Businesses have to comply with many rules to get halal certification, but they also have to be brave and ask questions,” he said.

“Sometimes, I blame people for just accepting this rule. Why are we silent?” he continued.

Also read: Hajj queue in Malaysia for 141 years, what causes it and what about Indonesia?

Not the first time it happened

A similar incident happened at a hotel in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Reported FMT (4/4/2016), the hotel put up a sign near the underground parking instructing non-halal carriers not to use the lift.

Instead, those who transport non-halal goods must use stairs.

“This elevator is only for transporting halal goods. For non-halal goods, please use stairs,” said the board.

Not only that, the board is also accompanied by a warning that the elevator in question is under CCTV surveillance.

In line with the response in Kuala Lumpur, the hotel located in Petaling Jaya also said that it only complies with JAKIM regulations regarding the transportation of non-halal goods as part of its licensing requirements.

Also read: Fees, Terms, and How to Register a Halal Certificate

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