Recently, 10 dishes were gazetted as heritage food in the Declaration of Heritage Object 2024, with Malaysians being divided on the inclusion of Bak Kut Teh or pork bone broth in the list.
While many agreed with Bak Kut Teh being recognised as a heritage dish, some argued that the food shouldn’t be given such an honour.
These include the Perak Assemblyperson for Gunung Semanggol, Razman Zakari who said that not everyone in Malaysia can eat Bak Kut Teh because of the pork ingredient and that it is best for heritage dishes to be given to the food of the majority citizens of Malaysia.
This came as no surprise as Razman’s political party PAS, which is part of the political coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN), had been against making Bak Kut Teh a heritage food since the proposal was first made in the Dewan Rakyat last year. In fact, PN even touted setting up a special committee to vehemently oppose making Bak Kut Teh a Malaysian heritage dish.
Jerantut MP wants Asam Rom and Tempoyak Ikan Patin as heritage foods instead of Bak Kut Teh
Jerantut MP, Khairil Nizam Khirudin
Now, another PAS member has voiced his dissatisfaction with Bak Kut Teh being a heritage dish, saying that 2 other dishes, namely Asam Rom and Tempoyak Ikan Patin should be gazetted instead.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday (4 March), the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jerantut Khairil Nizam Khirudin said that the aforementioned dishes are enjoyed by all Malaysians and are certified as Halal compared to “the previous issue”, which is in reference to Bak Kut Teh’s gazetting as heritage food.
Asam Rom
The former PAS info chief added that Asam Rom and Tempoyak Ikan Patin, which are famous dishes in his constituency are the wiser choices to be recognised as heritage food.
Furthermore, making them heritage foods would also increase local residents’ income and attract domestic and international tourists to Jerantut.
Tempoyak Ikan Patin
Asam Rom and Tempoyak Ikan Patin are ALREADY recognised as heritage food
However, it looks like the Jerantut MP may have been too eager to voice his opinion on the matter as his suggestion of making Asam Rom and Tempoyak Ikan Patin is rather redundant. This is because both dishes are ALREADY recognised as Malaysia’s heritage foods.
In fact, according to the Department of National Heritage’s official website, the two dishes have been gazetted as national heritage food since 2009.
Specifically, Tempoyak Ikan Patin is 33rd on the list of Intangible Heritage Objects, while Asam Rom is at no 38. They were both declared as Malaysian national heritage on 14 February 2009.
Well, let’s hope that Khairil Nizam will not make the same mistake again in Parliament and do proper research first before speaking in the Dewan Rakyat.
Furthermore, given that no MPs rebutted his proposal by invoking Standing Order 36(12) of the House for misleading the Dewan Rakyat is also rather concerning, as it meant that our lawmakers are oblivious to the list of our country’s national heritage.
For illustration purposes
So, what do you guys think of the whole situation? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
