Halal Selangor Highlights the Diversity of Muslim-Friendly Businesses in Selangor

The Selangor State Government – through the Islamic Affairs, Consumer Affairs and Halal Industry Committee, and in coordination with Selangor State Economic Planning Unit and Selangor State Media Association – has organised the inaugural Selangor Halal Industry Media Documentary and Promotion Familiarisation Trip, known as Halal Selangor in short. The trip was participated by selected members of media, content creators and influencers.

According to the Selangor State Executive Councillor for Islamic Affairs, Consumer Affairs and Halal Industry, The Honourable Zawawi Mughni, the scope of halal industry is not only limited to food and beverages alone, but also covers services such as logistics, packaging, branding, and marketing. In fact, the issue of halal is even relevant in pharmaceuticals, grooming and cosmetics, finance, investments, and tourism, to name a few.

The Selangor State Executive Councillor for Islamic Affairs, Consumer Affairs and Halal Industry, The Honourable Zawawi Mughni.

As such, Halal Selangor highlights the diversity of the halal offerings available in Selangor that encompasses various economic sectors and provide opportunities for businesses, especially the small and medium scale enterprises, to further promote their products or services to the public. The following are the businesses that Halal Selangor introduced to the participants during the trip.

Hijrah Selangor Foundation’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Normaiza Binti Haji Yahya.

MUSLIM-FRIENDLY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER:

Klinik Ajwa

Klinik Ajwa (https://klinikajwa.com.my) is a family-friendly clinic headed by husband-and-wife team Mr Hanizam bin Samsudin and Dr Leny Marlina in Shah Alam that specialises in outpatient and paediatric treatments, including antenatal packages for expectant mothers. The clinic also offers ultrasound packages such as gynae and breast scans for women done by female doctors; kidney, ureter and bladder scanning for men; thyroid scans; and wellness screening.

Another special service provided by the clinic is male circumcision for babies, children, teenagers, and adults. Klinik Ajwa even offers drivethrough and walk-in Covid-19 testing services, as long as patients make appointment first.

Poliklinik Amalmedik

A patient getting his right knee checked up at Amalmedik in Kota Damansara, which offers safe interventional and noninterventional pain treatments.

Amalmedik (https://www.amalmedik.com) in Kota Damansara focusses on interventional pain management and accurately executed minor surgery. The personnel are highly qualified and well-trained professionals including attentive doctors, pharmacists, and nurses, who are always ready to serve and provide the best treatment possible to all patients.

Among the services dispensed by the clinic are ear wax microsuction; hyaluronic acid injection to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis; minor surgery to remove lumps or cysts; care for various types of wounds; and circumcision using the latest technology and techniques that promote fast recovery. The clinic is also a pioneer in the country for using pain-free, needless local anaesthetic in its medical procedures.

Selcare Clinic

A staff member of SelCare Clinic giving an injection to a patient.

SelCare Clinic (https://selcareclinic.com) is a well-integrated network of healthcare practices under the Selangor State Development Corporation and SELGATE Corporation Sdn. Bhd. It has 15 branches in Klang Valley, all known for providing attentive and cost-effective outpatient medical care to the community. Three of the clinic’s branches (SelCare Clinic Desa Mentari, The KL Clinic Sri Rampai, and The KL Clinic Queen Avenue) primarily serve those who are from the bottom 40% (B40) income bracket.

On top of general practitioner services, SelCare offers Covid-19 vaccine and testing services every day. Recently, they even deploy mobile vaccination centres across Selangor. The clinic has a team of dedicated female doctors specialising in prenatal care as well.

HALAL F&B OUTLETS

Homst Restaurant

Considered as a pioneer in Chinese Muslim cuisine in Malaysia, HOMST (https://homst.com.my) is committed to providing halal Chinese cuisine for generations to come. The restaurant offers authentic Chinese cuisine that reflects China’s different regions.

When preparing the dishes, HOMST uses fresh ingredients that result in visually more alluring, and nutritious servings. Among its most popular dishes are steamed sea bass (siakap) and buttered chicken. HOMST’s chefs strive towards precision when serving up the dishes, testifying to their own calibre and experience. Every detail - from dish placement to service delivery - is carefully and meticulously scrutinised.

Over the years, HOMST has now expanded to include branches in Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Damansara, Shah Alam Seksyen 13, Kajang, Setia Alam, Bangi Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.

Baker's Cottage

Every Baker’s Cottage outlet prepares fresh roasted chicken daily.

Baker’s Cottage (https://thebakerscottage.com) is a bakery chain that receives its halal certification since 2006 and now has 184 outlets throughout Malaysia, of which 34 outlets are in Selangor alone. These outlets are all located in strategic locations that are easily accessible by local communities.

The chain makes an ideal one-stop bakery for party meals where customers are not only able to purchase cakes and pastries, but also its popular roasted barbecue and black pepper chicken at affordable prices because the chain’s owner, Leong Hup International Bhd, is Malaysia’s largest integrated poultry producer, allowing Baker’s Cottage to supply among the cheapest roasted chicken in the market.

SYARIAH-COMPLIANT LOAN:

Hijrah Selangor

Hijrah Selangor (https://www.hijrahselangor.com) is a scheme by the Selangor State Government to provide microcredit facility through the injection of additional capital to micro and small-scale entrepreneurs as one of the means to expand the size of the state’s middle class.

This microcredit facility is only available to Malaysians aged 18 and above with sound mind and body who are citizens or permanent residents of Selangor, vote in Selangor, directly involved in a business that is based at a premise, and not blacklisted by any financial agency or body.

According to Hijrah Selangor Foundation’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Normaiza binti Haji Yahya, the microcredit funding is interestfree and only requires entrepreneurs to pay the service processing fees. So far, Hijrah Selangor has 20 branches throughout the state.

For 2022, Hijrah Selangor aims to disburse funding worth MYR160 million to benefit 10,000 applicants. Hijrah Selangor is among the quickest to approve funding applications in Selangor, taking around 10 business days. It also plans to train 23,000 entrepreneurs in entrepreneurship skills. The organisation even funds micro, small and medium scale businesses for the digitalisation of their operations.

SYARIAH-COMPLIANT APPAREL:

Siti Khadijah

Shoppers inspecting items on sale at an outlet owned by Siti Khadijah, a market leader in Muslim ladies’ prayerwear.

Siti Khadijah (https://sitikhadijah.com) is a popular premium ladies’ prayerwear in Malaysia. Established since 2009, the brand now has 38 boutiques around the country. The brand features beautiful and comfortable collections that are divided into three categories: the Basic Label (priced under MYR200), the Maroon Label (priced between MYR200 - MYR499) and the Black Label (priced at MYR500 and above).

Loyal fans of the brand appreciate the awnings and chin covers of its prayerwear, which are made of soft, stretchable fabric to ensure utmost comfort. It avoids using fabrics that hug ladies’ figures to remain shariah-compliant. It even comes up with its own innovative Khadijah Ultrafine fabric that is not only soft and flowy, but also wrinkle-free, dries quickly and protects from ultra-violet rays. Today, Siti Khadijah has expanded its offerings by including a variety of readyto-wear collections that are not only hip and trendy, but also modest.

Shawlpublika

Owners Nur Hidayu (right) and A.Suffian readying a shawl to be packed inside a beautiful gift box.

Founded by a dynamic couple (Nur Hidayu Zorkafli Iskandar and A. Suffian), Shawlpublika (https://www.shawlpublika.com/home) is famous for its saree-inspired or styled baju kurung and dresses for women, with men’s collection launched occasionally.

This local brand is also lauded for catering to a wide audience, including breastfeeding mothers, plus-size individuals and those seeking modest apparels, without compromising on the designs and quality. In fact, the brand also collaborates with multiple notable brands like Body Shop, Garnier, Urban Decay, and Nyx since it outstandingly keeps up with the current trends.

HALAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS PRODUCER:

V’Asia Cosmetic & Healthcare

Owned by the charismatic Dato’ Azril bin Mohd. Radzi, V Asia Cosmetic & Healthcare (https://www.vasia.my) has been producing affordable and halal-certified health supplements since 2010 for the local market using natural ingredients, especially relating to weight loss.

Today, the company has expanded to include postpartum care kits, natural herbal products for general health, and cosmetics. According to Dato’ Azril, the company has even begun exporting its products to some extent to Thailand, and Brunei, while currently working towards penetrating the lucrative Indonesian market. The company avoids using hazardous ingredients like hydroquinone and lead in all its products since it strongly believes in educating the consumers regarding health product safety.

SYARIAH-COMPLIANT HOTEL:

Mardhiyyah Hotel & Suites

A room at Mardhiyyah Hotel & Suites.

Mardhiyyah Hotel and Suites (https://mardhiyyahhotel.com) is a syariah-compliant hotel located in Shah Alam’s commercial hub. Every modern room here comes with a large window with some rooms offering spectacular views of the grand Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, nicknamed the Blue Mosque. The hotel has Muslim guests’ comfort in mind by equipping a prayer mat in each room, on top of the usual amenities such as satellite TV, mini bar, and coffee- and tea-making facilities.

Moreover, the hotel makes an ideal choice for MICE events as it boasts a well-equipped ballroom and several meeting rooms along with a dedicated surau for guests to conveniently perform their prayers in a comfortable space in between their affairs. Guests can also enjoy fully halal meals at its three food and beverage outlets, including Tung Yuen Chinese Restaurant, which is popular among locals for its dim sum.