Check Out These Newly Gazetted M'sian Heritage Dishes Which Includes Bak Kut Teh

Commissioner of Heritage Mohamad Muda Bahadin announced this in the Government Gazette, saying that 10 dishes were gazetted in an exercise of the powers conferred by subsection 49(1) of the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645). Here are the selected 10:

1. Burasak: a traditional Malay dessert from Johor made of glutinous rice (pulut) cooked in coconut milk and palm sugar.

2. Mi Kolok: one of Sarawak's iconic dishes which can be served dry with beef or shredded chicken, topped with shallots and fragrant fried onion, and soup made of beef or chicken stock.

3. Nasi Ambeng: a Javanese rice dish that is served in a round tray with side dishes of fish, coconut floss (serunding), stir-fried vegetables, potato cutlet (bergedil), prawn crackers, tofu sambal (tempe), salted fish, salted egg, chilli brinjal and pickled carrots, and cabbage (acar).

4. Dodol Kukus Tahi Minyak: a chewy caramel-like Malay sweet treat

5. Kuih Lapis: a sweet Peranakan layered delicacy.

6. Uthappam: a savoury South Indian crepe.

7. Jeruk Tuhau: pickled wild ginger mostly eaten by the people of Sabah.

8. Bak Kut Teh.

9. Air Katira: a milk-based drink made of katira gum originating from West Asia.

10. Kuih Karas: a crispy fried snack of caramelised sugar flour

Back on 7 June 2023, there was an uproar in the Dewan Rakyat after Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (PN-Langkawi), a MP (member of Parliament), questioned if it was appropriate to list bak kut the as a national heritage dish as it was not featured in Malaysia’s 10 most popular traditional food.

Certain Twitter users were outraged over the inclusion of Bak Kut Teh in the list as it is generally prepared with pork.

User @izzahfeeqa said, “Since when did our heirs eat pork? Never in a thousand years has pork become a heritage dish of the people of Tanah Melayu.”

Sejak bila warisan kita makan babi? Tak pernah seribu tahun babi ni jadi makanan warisan orang tanah melayu? https://t.co/dAXlWoDLH5

— ? (@izzahfeeqa) February 23, 2024

Another user retorted, that “Although Bak Kut Teh is usually prepared using pork ribs, but its name is ‘Meat Bone Tea’, which means it can still be halal.”

Memang Bak Kut Teh selalu dengan Babi, tapi nama dia "Meat Bone Tea", maknanya, it can still be Halal. ACTUALLY NONE OF THIS WOULD MATTER IF YOU READ SEJARAH WADUUUUH. https://t.co/9X1r8dYga0 pic.twitter.com/lrSFMe2Ynj

— skywalking man (@JodmaJovana) February 25, 202

One user commented lamented on how we should direct our focus on other more pertinent issues instead of getting so worked up about Bak Kut Teh.

As a Muslim in Malaysia. I wish we would be more outraged at the inhumane treatment of fellow Muslims by human traffickers.Alas. Our anger is only mobilized to reinforce Malay supremacy and Islamofascism for political gain.Marah pemerdagangan manusia. ❌Marah bak kut teh. ✅ https://t.co/wMt6qLIwNq pic.twitter.com/AuJuU3zlp3

— Une étoile qui meurt, essayant (@digitalkai) February 26, 2024

Another commented, “Why is it a problem to some people when Bak Kut Teh is declared as a national food heritage? Aren’t we all aware that we have more than one ethnic group in Malaysia? So shouldn’t we allow each group to be represented properly and one of (them) is through food?”

why is it a problem to some people when Bak Kut Teh is declared as a national food heritage? aren’t we all aware that we have more than one ethnic group in Malaysia? so shouldn’t we allow each group to be represented properly and one of is through food? lmao. benda tu pun panas.

— nct ?? (@tyongjenmrk) February 24, 2024

What do you think of this issue?