One of the funniest news items to hit the newspapers yesterday came out loud and screaming in all the national dailies. The Straits Times reported:
Sep 18, 2009
Truly Malaysian?
Tourism Minister wants to stake claim on popular dishes
By Elizabeth Looi
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is starting a food fight.
Laksa, nasi lemak, Hainanese chicken rice, chilli crab and bak kut teh are all Malaysian dishes, Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen declared. On Wednesday, Datuk Seri Dr Ng accused other countries of ‘hijacking’ local dishes such as laksa and nasi lemak, and said it was high time that Malaysia claimed them as Malaysian.
‘We cannot continue to let other countries hijack our food,’ she said, without naming the countries. ‘Chilli crab is Malaysian. Hainanese chicken rice is Malaysian. We have to lay claim to our food,’ the minister said after she launched the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival.
…
‘We have identified laksa…all types of laksa, nasi lemak and bak kut teh,’ The Star newspaper quoted her as saying.
But she did not say how her ministry would label the dishes as Malaysian. The Tourism Minister’s announcement came as Malaysia and Indonesia were working hard to resolve a dispute alleging that Malaysia ‘stole’ Indonesian culture such as batik and claimed it as its own.
I had a good laugh reading the article, though I’m certain it’s a dead serious issue in the minds of the politicians concerned. Either way, the news item is much discussed right now in several places like here and here.:)
This just in: pizza is Malaysian, French fries is Malaysian, and McDonald’s is Malaysian, yet, regrettably, I am not Malaysian. But I do expect to eventually purchase a second home in Malaysia, if for no other reason than to be close to Singapore and to enjoy all of the Malaysian food I unknowingly eat every day.
Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen didn’t bring up the matter of Malaysia’s ownership of roti prata? Then I hereby hijack roti prata, on behalf of no nation, but for myself. Yummy!
Haha! :)
I’m baffled. Explain to me which part of Hainan is in Malaysia?
Probably somewhere in someone’s cerebral cortex :P
LOL… actually, Hainan chicken rice was not made in Hainan.. you go there and ask the locals, they’ll tell you there’s no such thing called Hainan chicken rice…. it’s made in SINGAPORE!!!!
and I just want to add that, bak ku teh is pork leh…. Malaysia is a Muslim country… so why the hell Malaysia wants a pork dish as a national dish?? I think that minister really can’t think properly…
Actually, Malaysia is a secular state. :) But its politicians confuse people sometimes.
Most Singaporeans kiasuness attitudes have made u guys look stupid. Over certain food claims also wana sulk. So what the politicians claim it’s a muslim state? we too got 4d outlets, and also owns d first casino in SEA which singapore also wana copycat. We dont sulk about u guys owning a casino. We dont even shoot down ur war planes flying over our borders, evn though it’s not a crime for us 2 do so because u simply curi our airspace. Buy raw waters also give you cheap and lots more i just dont have time to mention. I don’t care about what the tourism minister say, i wont want to argue about food claims. Only ppl with non-sensible ppl like singaporeans would thinks the world is theirs, and will continue to do so till u’r turn into ashes. Go blast ur own kind first before blasting others. Y so kiasu against us, and turn into chicken whn your leaders offend us. jin eh, lu nang jin bo ka si. thiu thiu thiu nia. Hard to argue with kiasu ppl. they wont let u win. i bet after this someone would rebut my comment. i rest my case and we’ll see after this whether im right.
Who’s sulking? People here are just seeing it as a joke.
And you should take a look what Malaysians are saying themselves:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/38002-truly-malaysian-tourism-minister-wants-to-stake-claim-on-popular-dishes
And you really should chill.
Not to be disrespectful, U and i might see this as a joke, but not ur other fellow SIngaporeans..
And you should also see this link.
http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090917203850AAZ2Qtq&cp=4
What’s d fuss about chilli crabs? F**k that Singaporean aunty claiming its hers, and she created it? that’s her own recipe, no need to generalize it. My late granma cooked chiili crabs for me, and she was born in the pre-independance day. Fellow Singaporeans, there’s actually nothing to get emotional with and to sulk like a half dead being. D name of the menu might sound d same, but not d recipe inside, and this u have to agree with me? my late granma chilli crabs uses dried chillis, u guys use chilli sauce, things like that.
We ourselves – from the link u’ve given , had given our own minister a good whack on her ass for her ‘brilliant’ idea. You guys only adds up to her joke by defending chillin crabs? No wonder we malaysians are laughing at u guys because of your kiasuness. trivial stuffs can make u guys go berserk..lol
Think of something more sensible since most of u ppl “claimed” urself to be more educated than us..lol. Don’t let us, what u called “third world mentality ppl”, laugh at ur stupidity. it only reserve us the right to call u 4th world mentality ppl, if only there is such term.
Regards,
hehe..:)
siew kim: lots of generalizations in your comment, but I’ll leave it be.
BTW – this is not primarily a political blog. It’s a personal and collaborative one that’s written by family and family friend, own on private space, and visited by family and friends. We write on a variety of topics on anything that interests us. I’ve allowed your comments here, despite my wife’s discomfort at your tone. If you’re looking to spar on a political issue, you’re better off visiting some other site.
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