KUCHING: Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing wants the Malaysian herbal soup ‘bak kut teh’ dish issue put to rest.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister (MoTAC)was disappointed with the recent remarks by Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Rais Yatim on the popular dish.
“I am deeply saddened to note Tan Sri Rais Yatim, a veteran politician, showing his outdated and narrow mindedness concerning Bak Kut Teh. I am just encouraging everyone to appreciate bak kut teh and other Malaysian dishes openly.
Expressing his disappointment on his social media platform, he said: “Why do we have to fight about dishes that come from Malaysia? Can we look at it from a holistic perspective of our country’s culinary heritage, instead of interpreting these things from the point of view of race or religion and whether the dish is halal or not?”
Tiong said he had explained that the bak kut teh soup was originally made from medicinal herbs of which should be the focus, and not the protein used as an ingredient in cooking.
“Yes, pork bones and pork are used as ingredients in the beginning and it is the most popular version. However, the food culture that exists today has developed many variations of bak kut teh, where it has evolved into various flavours using mutton, chicken, seafood, and even vegetables.
“All of these (versions) are intended so that everyone can enjoy the goodness of herbs in this simple dish. When making bak kut teh, everyone is free to use the protein they choose. There is no need to complicate this matter,” he said.
He also said the word ‘bak’ itself refers to meat only, and that there is no other meaning to it.
“My position is clear; that every food that is synonymous with any race or ethnicity should be respected, including categorising it as national food or heritage food, because it is this diversity that reflects Malaysia’s true identity.
“The same goes for dim sum which is quite famous for the Chinese community. But now, there are Muslim businessmen and traders who sell or produce halal dim sum products.
“Isn’t this something good? Especially for Muslim businessmen and traders? Moreover, Malaysia is now known as one of the world’s largest halal hubs.
“So, let us stop making racist statements by using this issue just for political gains; it only sows hatred and destroys the foundation of unity,” warned Tiong.
Earlier on June 7, Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah had asked the government if there were any efforts to ensure the traditional food of Malaysians such as nasi lemak, bak kut teh and laksa are elevated to the status of Malaysia’s national food.
Meanwhile, MoTAC Deputy Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said food categorised as national food or heritage food should be something that can be eaten and tasted by all races in this country.
The word bak kut teh is a Hokkien phrase and the dish is popular among the Chinese community. It is believed that bak kut teh originated from Fujian province in China.
