Food Fight – Clash of the Titans?
October 3, 2009 | 2,029 views
From – Crabs for New Year in Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur
Back in our childhood days, we used to fight over petty matters. We would scramble for the last piece of candy, proclaiming war over trivial objects (pencil box fights, anyone?), and proudly claiming ‘patent’ over our very own, erm, creations (crayon-painted landscapes that reminded one of Picasso’s masterpieces?).
And to think that we all matured with time. Bah ….. The current fiasco surrounding the ‘Food Fight’ between two neighbouring countries had me sniggering no less, a strong reminder of our past when quarrels over who-owns-what was prominent.
I’m a food blogger from Malaysia, but I’m on the fence on this issue raised by our very own Tourism Minister. With no intentions to disgrace my country, nor putting down Singapore, let me share my two cents’ worth here.
From – Nasi Lemak Panas @ Jalan 223, Petaling Jaya
You see, Singapore’s really aggressive (and no doubt efficient) at branding their products, with heavy publicity, and constant promotion to the world. This kind of explains why there are way more food-related shows from our neighbouring country in comparison to the mere handful of local productions.
From – Kok Beng Hainan Chicken Rice in Taiping
Chilli crabs and Hainan Chicken Rice are two such dishes that are almost synonymous with Singaporean cuisine. Not to say we can’t find them here in Malaysia, but what Singapore had been routinely practising is targeted promotion; heavily publicizing one method of cooking the crabs, whereas in Malaysia, we have many interpretations, eg. Butter Crabs, Salt-baked Crabs, Steamed Crabs, etc. Literally translated to a lack of identity, as we seldom hear people talking about Malaysian Chilli Crabs on the streets.
Clockwise from top left : Gunung Rapat Kee Poh Laksa in Ipoh, Sharon’s Laksa in Ipoh, Curry Mee @ Medan Lapangan Lagenda, Ipoh and Nam Chun Sarawak Laksa in Bangsar
What we fail to notice is that, Singapore WAS in fact, a part of Malaysia. Hence it’s not a big deal if both countries share most of the signature dishes. Another point I’d like to draw your attention to is; we in Malaysia are proud to have a wide array of cuisines, with influences from all over. But branding-wise, we falter rather miserably. Take for example Laksa. We have Sarawak Laksa, Penang Assam Laksa, Johor Laksa, and the southern states refer to their curry noodles as Laksa. Now imagine a foreigner coming over to Malaysia expecting a “Malaysian Laksa” but was instead presented with so many different varieties. Confusing? Yes. Identity crisis, even. But it’s the myriad of cuisines from the combined 13 states and 2 federal territories, encompassing flavours from the East Malaysia as well as the multiple variations available in the peninsular, that makes Malaysian cuisine so special; almost incomparable.
From – Serai Sate Kajang in Ipoh
There really should NOT be a “food fight” in the first place. Food is meant to bring people together, speaking a universal language, satisfying the gluttons in each and every one of us. It is definitely not a subject to be debated on, as to whether a certain dish belongs to a country or another. Malaysia should be proud of what we currently have, and instead work to promote the many other dishes, before other countries start to lay claims and work their way up the retribution page.
(This article was featured in BlogTV.sg, a Singaporean web portal. Here’s the link to the original article : Malaysian food blogger J2Kfm thinks cuisines is shared, but S’pore is just better at branding)
I agree with you in this. Our gov dunno how to promote all this and in oversea people always mention Chinese food but not Malaysian food.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:42 pm
yeah, even to the extent of calling them Singaporean Asian food, but Malaysian food.
we’re rather bad at promoting them somehow.
[Reply]
Yes, indeed Sg is so mch better at branding. Look at AFC! So many shows that features Sg and food. And AFC is broadcast to Phil, HK, Indo etc.. No wonder these countries’ citizen identifies Asian cuisine with Sg!
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 pm
AFC’s Asian food shows are mostly from our neighbour down south.
no wonder our cuisines are not as famous, huh?
[Reply]
[...] Malaysia-Singapore Food Fight 2009 | Motormouth From Ipoh – A … [...]
hi James.. i really love the way you display your photos here… it is like the food coming alive! yes…sad to hear that MY is not as much publicity as in Sg…well, carry on with yr good work here…u r getting very popular …hope one day our tourism sector will come to recognise our food bloggers here….
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 12:13 am
thanks reana. glad you can drop your comments here now.
very popular? not really. ahhahah ..but thanks.
[Reply]
We, the food bloggers from all over the states of Malaysia are doing a great job promoting our Malaysian food in our blogs. Hopefully our government will do their part too.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 12:15 am
yup, indeed. very true lah, CK. we are enjoying cuisines from different races, different backgrounds.
yet when we should be darn proud of them, we’re actually taking things for granted.
until NOW.
how can we expect other countries to sit by, idle and nonchalant when we’re coming up with a list of all the patented dishes?
[Reply]
agree w ya . . . .right on the spot
[Reply]
agree agree!!! our country has to put more efforts on promoting our own good food!!!
[Reply]
Hahahaha….
Every country is trying to claim the originality of their food.
Anyway, I think Malaysia is much much much better than Indonesia in promoting the country including food.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
really? anyway, how’s Indonesia getting on there?
tragic happenings at Padang. hope the country’s coping well.
[Reply]
Well said!! The trivial debate has been blown completely out of proportion… how insecure are we to try OWN food?? Never heard of anything quite as preposterous!
[Reply]
yeah.. many ppl trying to “own” the food..
aiya.. anything also can right..
as long as yummy.. then everything OK =D
[Reply]
just woke up from a nap and I saw your chilli crab, it makes me hungry. where for dinner???
or am I still in a dream.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
you’re definitely still in a dream.
[Reply]
Good points there. Either the Tourism Ministry has got nothing better to do OR our politicians are just situpid ppl. I think there shouldn’t even be an ‘OR’ in this case, should be ‘AND’ instead. Sighs.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
hmm …pretty strong words there. indeed both countries have always been at each other’s throat.
from water supply, to land. and now food. when will they ever learn?
.-= J2Kfm´s last blog ..Food Fight – Clash of the Titans? =-.
[Reply]
excellent post! I, for one , believe that food should be race specific .. not country specific. There, there.. isnt that easier? That way we can all live in harmony! LOL. (Spore predominantly chinez rite?!
)
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
hahaha ….. somewhat true i guess. to me, food should be universal lah …why bother claiming and such? you can cook good laksa, then fine. market it as your own. we can market ours as well.
[Reply]
So who’s food is it? :p Actually I thing it doesn’t matter anymore. :p
[Reply]
Sometimes it is funny to note that both nations are quarreling over trivia issues. :p
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 8:36 am
yup, agreed. but these are the things that’ll make us look back in years to come,
and smile upon them.
[Reply]
Get the facts straight… Singapore is run by the Chinese! what about Malaysia???
No offense, I’m no racist but we (Malaysia) only started to make claims only when we saw others’s success. Why didn’t we start promoting our nation’s food at the first place??
Singapore used to be a part of Malaysia nation until its imminent separation in 1965… due to the Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia… which granted special privileges to the Malays… and this issue continues to plague us until today… you should see those banner of so-called “ketuanan melayu” being displayed in protest whenever they felt that the rights are being challenge.
1Malaysia??? bulls**t!!! We may look good in the eyes of the world but deep down inside, we know that it’s far from being a united nation!!!
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
rather strong choice of words, Leo. but exactly, how are we supposed to fight over the ownership of such dishes, when we ourselves have been neglecting our cuisine all these years?!!
[Reply]
I think it’s absolutely crazy the idea of a food fight. Why does it matter really?
.-= iamthewitch´s last blog ..My ROM in the papers! =-.
[Reply]
a good one!
.-= kampungboycitygal´s last blog ..HK & Macau Trip Day 5: Leitaria I Son, Ruin of St. Paul, Poon Weng Kee Cookies =-.
[Reply]
Agree with you that Sg is good at branding.
[Reply]
[...] was once when I published an article for an online Singapore news portal, on the infamous Food Fight fiasco. You know … on how both sides of the straits laying claims to a few ‘national [...]
[...] in 2009, I wrote a piece on one of the HOTTEST piece of news in town (yeah, when other countries were deep in thoughts [...]
[...] food bloggers from both Singapore & Malaysia came forth to voice their views and opinion about chilli crab. While there are some vehement claims [...]