BEST: Sarawak’s best kek lapis entrepreneurs show their certificates as they pose with Fatimah (centre) at yesterday’s press conference. Seen on third right is Rabiah. – Photo by Jeffrey Mostapha
KUCHING: Local kek lapis (layered cake) entrepreneurs are getting the raw end of the deal after the Sarawak food icon was highlighted to contain Golden Churn Creamery Butter.
Sarawak Kek Lapis Entrepreneurs Association president Rabiah Amit said this allegation was negatively impacting the extremely lucrative kek lapis business, especially when sales normally peak just before the festive season.
“Why are people targeting kek lapis?” she said during the association’s courtesy call to Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office Datin Fatimah Abdullah at her office yesterday.
Rabiah said they usually stopped taking orders for kek lapis around this time before Hari Raya, but the butter controversy had caused many to cancel their orders since the issue became news headlines. She lamented the loss of customer confidence was completely unmerited because the association members had been using other brands of butter all the while.
“We’ve not been using Golden Churn because it’s expensive,” Rabiah stressed, adding that she had received an avalanche of inquiries about the issue.
The matter went as far as their Selangor distributor’s stock getting confiscated after being accused of selling ‘kek babi’.
“We want to make it clear that our kek lapis is halal,” Rabiah said.
The layered cake business raked in profits amounting to RM6.5 million last year.
To this, Fatimah advised the entrepreneurs to make a list of the ingredients they use and put it up at their respective shops for their customers’ scrutiny.
“At least put up a sign that says you do not use Golden Churn to put your customers at ease,” she said.
On another note, she said ‘Sarawak Best’ committee had also recognised seven kek lapis entrepreneurs as producers of quality Sarawakian products.
“One of the criteria for this recognition is that your products must consist of ingredients that are halal. If butter is one of your ingredients, we will make sure it is halal. If we have doubts, it will be sent to (Jakim) to certify if it’s halal. It’s a very stringent requirement.”
To obtain Sarawak Best certification, products must be approved by a committee comprising Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama), Fisheries Development Authority (LKM), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).
Fatimah also said some entrepreneurs took it a step further by applying for halal certification from Sarawak Islamic Department (Jais) or Jakim.
Among the seven entrepreneurs who received their ‘Sarawak Best’ certificate yesterday were Rabiah Amit Cake House, D’Wanie Cake Enterprise, Mariam Kek House, D’Rieza Enterprise, Afifi Kek Lapis, S.A Enterprise and Siti Payung (Miri). Also present at the press conference were state Agriculture Department director Lai Kui Fong and Fama director Paza Dan.