The Beginning of a Food Fight?

Are we in Malaysia starting a food fight with the world at large?

Laksa, nasi lemak, Hainanese chicken rice, chilli crab and bak kut teh are all Malaysian dishes, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen declared unabashedly!

On Wednesday (September 16,2009), 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. (This must be the laugh of the century!)

“We cannot continue to let other countries hijack our food,” she said, without naming the countries.(Are we going after the Somalians,here?)

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Hokkien Mee

Roti Canai

Satay

Tom yam

“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.(I am still giggling!!)

But some food critics disagreed, saying that it would not be possible for a country to claim ownership over the dishes.

Celebrity chef Rohani Jelani said that food in general is not politically divided.

As people move from one country to another, they also take with them the recipes of their favourite foods.

“I think it is difficult to claim ownership or to say exactly what food originated from where. This is because there are no boundaries when it comes to food,” she told The Straits Times.

Singapore food celebrity K.F. Seetoh agreed that it would be impossible for anyone to claim ownership over food, even if a certain dish is easily available at a certain place.

“It is better to lay claim by association,” he suggested.

“For example, burgers are not from America, but they are associated with America,” said Seetoh, who hosts popular TV show Makansutra on the Asian Food Channel. (This is more on the level!)

Dr Ng said that her ministry was identifying the popular dishes, which are also available in neighbouring countries, and would declare them as Malaysian in the next three months.(Is this her KPI,Datuk Idris Jala?)

“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.(I want to see this!)

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.