GEORGE TOWN — Nasi Kandar, Hokkien mee, mee Jawa, mamak fried noodles and muruku are among 28 Penang dishes that have been gazetted as intangible cultural heritage under the Penang State Heritage Enactment 2011 this year.
Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said this was an effort to preserve the state’s identity and rich culinary legacy.
The significance of this is that items gazetted at the state level could subsequently be recommended for national recognition under the National Heritage Act 2005.
The next step could be submission for international recognition by UNESCO.
The dishes include nasi kandar, asam laksa, char kuetiau, pasembor and cendol, Wong told the state legislative assembly sitting today, Bernama reports.
“Other foods gazetted are Hokkien mee, squid noodles, mee jawa, prawn noodles, roti Benggali, oh chien, kerabu bihun, mamak fried noodles, putu mayam, muruku, tosai and teh tarik,” he added.
Wong was responding to a question from Wong Yuee Harng (Pengkalan Kota-PH) regarding Penang’s achievements in obtaining recognition for intangible heritage at the state, national and international levels.
Apart from cuisine, seven additional cultural and heritage elements were also gazetted, including Nasi Kandar Culture, Kopitiam Culture, the Chingay Parade, Thaipusam Festival and the Tanjong dialect. – May 11, 2026