KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — Malaysia is starting a food fight.
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.
On Wednesday, 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.
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 food.
“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.
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.
“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. — The Straits Times

written by Cookie, September 18, 2009
Anybody have any more? Oh, don't forget ikan bakar and roti bakar!!!
And whilst you're at it, do you think Yen Yen really bakar and sizzle???
written by chen hsiung, September 18, 2009
worry for the future of malaysia
if thats what they are good for
history will tell us that spore and malysia had a common culture and heritage
written by Arul Inthirarajah, September 18, 2009
written by not-so-innocent, September 18, 2009
why politicised everything? kurang bijak!
written by Kane, September 18, 2009
written by change28, September 18, 2009
Malaysian ministers can find little useful to do,so they indulge in silly and stupid endeavours like this.
More likely explanation is that these ministers have no idea what they are supposed to do as ministers in the first place.
written by yuth, September 18, 2009
written by Matteo, September 18, 2009
People will associate them with us!
written by faizal, September 18, 2009
ng yen yen as tourism minister lebih baik clean up malaysia to improve malaysia image.
written by James Loh, September 18, 2009
written by anony, September 18, 2009
written by Clear Thinking, September 18, 2009
written by pfui Pfui Yen Yen, September 18, 2009
written by Atrocious, September 18, 2009
So what if Nasi Lemak, Hainan chicken rice etc etc is Malaysian dishes if not one is willing to risk coming to Msia to taste them, lest after enjoying a plate of delicious Nasi Lemak, they get stabbed by a robber, or chance upon a crowd of people waving bloody cow heads???
written by carol, September 18, 2009
written by wizard, September 18, 2009
written by jtan, September 18, 2009
written by concerned_dude, September 18, 2009
written by unnion, September 18, 2009
written by HJ Angus, September 18, 2009
Maybe it's to give budding lawyers practice in writing patents!
We can't enforce basic road traffic rules and now they want more rules on food.
written by Kentut Panas, September 18, 2009
written by Awareness, September 18, 2009
written by GHTan, September 18, 2009
Ever since I work in China and all over the world since 10 years ago, all those item, most of the foreigners will said IT'S SINGAPORE LOCAL FOOD!!!
Only now you want to lay claim? Come on, aren't you a little bit TOO LATE?!!!
written by yc, September 18, 2009
Maybe we should call it Tioman Chicken Rice but we will still be sue Hai-Sue for using the same method as cooking Hainanese chicken rice.
Durian anybody. Hopefully those Indon do not duri-sue us.
written by yc, September 18, 2009
written by seberang, September 18, 2009
written by Alex, September 18, 2009
Since when Hainanese chicken rice is a Malaysian dish? Unless you change the name to "Malaysian Chicken Rice".....
Oh by the way, are you going to patent their names too? Come on.... there's no need for that... it will show the world that we are very petty over such small things!
written by newbie, September 18, 2009
written by mengyee, September 18, 2009
written by Foo Chee Vun, September 18, 2009
written by passerby, September 18, 2009
written by aries333, September 18, 2009
written by Kev, September 18, 2009
Get your facts right before you stake any claims, please. We've been spending too much time bickering on trivial issues while more crucial issues are left unattended.
written by Dragon Sword, September 18, 2009
written by Gonggong, September 18, 2009
written by anak malaysia, September 18, 2009
written by Newchief, September 18, 2009
so what if others copied our dish. in the first place, how to prove this is malaysia dish??? any evidence or just hey-says. maybe its original if from other places like india,china,indonesia or any other countries instead.
now, we are getting to see more and more kecil-hati, brain-ass ppl especially from bn. ng yen yen is to be commented to join mps like muh,keris,rais flu,toyol,zambry and its totally 'sane' that we had elected them. we must do something in the future to maintain our sanity.
written by Joe Lee, September 18, 2009
If the Indo is silly enough to claim like a kid, shall we do the same. Now we know why the indo label us as maling. An eye for an eye? Stupid !!!! We are educated, we are different and we dont do what is wrong that others do!!!
Silly Minister, dont make the world look at us stupidly
written by isa rahim, September 18, 2009
UMNO is getting increasingly nationalsocialistic. The parallels with nazism getting stronger by the day.
written by Jasraj Sandhu, September 18, 2009
If we go down this path, where will it end - defining food by race contributions could be next possibly or maybe even charging non-Malaysian increased prices for eating Malaysian foodstuff?
written by Roti Canai, September 18, 2009
written by Howzat, September 18, 2009
written by EQ, September 18, 2009
I do not think anybody would trust that Assam Laksa will taste good if made anywhere else but in Penang. Will this start a local 'food war'? Each state or city will start to apply for Patents for "Penang Laksa", "Kuching Kolo Mee" or "Ipoh White Coffee"
Let us focus on ensuring that "Our" Laksa or Chicken Rice, or Nasi Kandar or Roti Canai, or Chilli Crabs are the best tasting in the world. Then everybody would not have to care or fret about who "OWNS" these dishes. They will associate these dishes because the best of these dishes can be found here.
written by dirty dick, September 18, 2009
written by Ivan, September 18, 2009
written by anaconda, September 18, 2009
written by aguy, September 18, 2009
can someone please knock some sense into that Minister.
To those in the Tourism Ministry, please take note that Singapore also has Nasi lemak, laksa, bakuteh and chilli crab.
Remember that Singapore WAS part of Malaysia and hence share a common ground
when it comes to these dishes.
What I think you can say is that these dishes are prepared/cooked the Malaysian way.
I.e. Penang Laksa. You can't generalise and say that "oh, Malaysia created laksa". common man. It would be more logical to say that Malaysia has it's own unique flavour when it comes to laksa.
To the Tourism Ministry, please do your homework.
Please don't make Malaysia into more of a laughing stock than it already is.
written by Jasraj Sandhu, September 18, 2009
If we go down this path, where will it end - defining food by race contributions could be next possibly or maybe even charging non-Malaysian increased prices for eating Malaysian foodstuff?
written by silverstar, September 18, 2009
written by tkphua, September 18, 2009
So that you can get even with someone else if something similar happened with the pendet dance clip?
If it's popular enough, people will automatically associate it with something, just like corruption and BN. Correct??
No need to give so much attention to such trivial matter.
written by j, September 18, 2009
Probably the most brilliant or dumbest idea to come from this minister. I dunno to laugh or crylah.
written by Elf, September 18, 2009
written by Ong, September 18, 2009
written by zenzen, September 18, 2009
Does countries like US, china, india also need to declara the ownship of Mc Donald, KFC......, all the chinese stuff, moon cake....roti canai...? start a war to those countries that hijack the food...
Well, it is another brilliant idea to get budget from government.... malaysian boleh pay for it....
written by silly woman, September 18, 2009
written by 2414, September 18, 2009
have we lost all sense of purpose in governing the country which is facing far greater challenges!
please "STOP IT!"
written by Tito, September 18, 2009
Kan itu aadvertisment yang baik. Semua dunia pun tau nama Malaysia, Dong!
written by Tommy, September 18, 2009
Even if she wanted to help Malaysia lay claims on the dishes, why now? Why after so many years where countries like Singapore has been associated with Hainanese chicken rice, nasi lemak and so on?
I wonder if Ng Yen Yen has better things to do such as thinking of ways to increase tourism income for Malaysia instead of such thing!!!
written by teoh, September 18, 2009
written by Leong Yook Kong, September 18, 2009
written by eksk, September 18, 2009
written by common people, September 18, 2009
Bak kut teh - i thought its from china
Belacan - saw belacan in use in Thailand
Durian - we got durian thai
Hainan Chicken Rice - Hainan people come from China, so maybe originated from China
Please stop this nonsense. Just ignore the Indonesian, take the pendet dance, batik, negaraku, we don't care. Somebody please give this Yen Yen some serious smack in the head.
written by alan, September 18, 2009
written by Jack Ling, September 18, 2009
written by Adrian, September 18, 2009
written by poekimark poooliticianz, September 18, 2009
written by funnyfella, September 18, 2009
BTW, what about "Bak Kut Teh", Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs and "Char Siew Rice"? We should stake claims to these 3 dishes because they are very popular to at least 40% of Malaysian population.
Claim the 3 dishes as Malaysian, we might have 'Pig Head' Protest on our hands. Think about it, numbskull Minister!
written by zan, September 18, 2009
written by ckh, September 18, 2009
I think she is trying to out-do Lim Guan Eng. This brings me to wonder where he got the permission to be called "Penang Chief Minister"? He must have given it himself ...
written by Darryl, September 18, 2009
By the way, what happened to the Venturepharm Asia scandal? No further action?!
written by Pikake, September 18, 2009
What have we Malaysians done about our local food that we are proud of ? Internationally, aside from some Nasi Kandar shops peppered in the UK and Australia, we havent done much justice to our food. Yes, we've heard of the Malaysian Kitchen grants and all, but how accessible are these? They seemed only feasible for the 'haves' who have not much idea about food (well, other than enjoying them of course). What about the authentic Char Kuey Teow, Bak Kut Teh, Yee Sang etc? Personally I think they are not very well promoted perhaps due to religious sensitivities. Or perhaps not much research has been done about what tourists and expats love to eat. Did you know that the Japanese love our Pan Mee?
Locally, these foods are appreciated by locals and tourists alike. But at the same time, many are put off by the hygiene levels of food stalls and restaurants who 'couldnt care less' about those who do not patronise them. We must do something to protect, promote and incentivise people to do more for our national food, and not be herded by handsome profits.
Kicking and crying will not help. It is not about copyrighting, patenting, trademarking nor benchmarking something as subjective as food, but promoting food with utmost passion. Ultimately it is our own passion that will drive the world to see for themselves how certain foods can only be synonamous with Malaysia, and not any other country.
Learn a thing or two from Japan, Korea, even Taiwan. Learn how fervently they talk about their food on TV. Just today I learnt about the orgins of Bak Kut Teh from a famous local food programme hosted by A Xian. Is this programme available internationally?
written by Penumpang Halal, September 18, 2009
You scream out, "Malaysia...Truly Asia" and now, you want to lay claim to everything Malaysian.
Study some history and you will realize that even "malaysia" is a hijacked term.
Prior to 1957, "malaysia" was used by many academicians to denote the area of South-east Asia roughly consisting of Indonesia, Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak.
Nothing to do is it Yen Yen, want to add fuel to the Indonesia-Malaysia ambers is it?
written by Red Baron, September 18, 2009
written by chen hsiung, September 18, 2009
pork and lard must be used for these to be sedap
anyway the spore versions are very different in taste and style
written by Mouseking, September 18, 2009
I just wonder if China were to lay claim to the chinese language then are we all going to stop using the chinese or else has to pay royalty to China? In Singapore, at least we are 75% Chinese so we are still able to defend it as a indigenous language but what will happen to Malaysian Chinese? Stop using the language? How about the Indian and English? Hahaha, really silly!
written by samuelsing, September 18, 2009
written by Mouseking, September 18, 2009
I just wonder if China were to lay claim to the chinese language then are we all going to stop using the chinese or else has to pay royalty to China? In Singapore, at least we are 75% Chinese so we are still able to defend it as a indigenous language but what will happen to Malaysian Chinese? Stop using the language? How about the Indian and English? Hahaha, really silly!
written by Pendet, September 18, 2009
written by James Khor, September 18, 2009
I don't believe Ng Yen Yen is that unaware of the outside world, but then for domestic consumption, and more importanatly as someone from a BN component party, one really ought to play to the current tune of UMNO, nationalism and patriotism and all the other isms, you can conveniently forget about the real issues facing our country.
written by Teanne, September 18, 2009
written by ..., September 19, 2009
written by orang utan, September 19, 2009
written by padman, September 19, 2009
written by silly, September 19, 2009
Morons.
written by CC, September 19, 2009
Crab? I believe this BN people know BN is so low and nobody believe them anymore, they have to cook up some rubbish to try heat up some nationalist support to show BN is still relevant to Malaysian! Instead, they are a bunch of clown running a Malaysian curcus and the show is dustasteful!
written by dayak Iban Sarawak, September 19, 2009
written by Beekay, September 19, 2009
written by PuteriPolitik, September 19, 2009
written by PenangBoy, September 19, 2009
written by yencancook, September 19, 2009
written by yumyum, September 19, 2009
You are infringing the financial trademark of Japan.
Have you no shame, woman?
written by RedBean, September 19, 2009
Come on, we Malay HARAM with your PORK!!!! Don't create problem!!!!!
written by keat, September 19, 2009
i see bn ending themselves.
written by Lime, September 22, 2009
written by jac'k, September 23, 2009
Nasi Lemak in Singapore is totally different from Malaysia. Basic Nasi Lemak we can found it in Malaysia. Sporean make it variety. We also does. Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa, Nasi Lemak Kukus, Nasi Lemak Berlauk. I believe we couldn't found those in spore or other countres? Why make it an issue.
We also have dodol, sata, ketupat, lemang and so many other's thing. NYY want to trademark it for what. Useless and wasted. Food after eat will come out as shit not as the food back.
Just except that we come originally from others country, and now we became Malaysian. So there is nothing about food that we need it to be trademarking. NYY should more advertise it, not locally. Open a franchise of Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa in other countries. Not a branch in Malaysia only. Don't only want to talk of claiming right. Action more speak less. Invest of food to other countries.
written by Ben Koh, September 23, 2009
written by Joni, September 24, 2009




