KUALA LUMPUR – Recognising bak kut teh as a national heritage dish has nothing to do with race or religion as there are halal and non-halal versions to choose from, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Bintulu-GPS).
He told the Dewan Rakyat that the persistent politicking of several issues will affect the perception international travellers have about Malaysia.
“Bak kut teh is not a new dish that was just introduced recently. We know there are halal and non-halal versions – there is even a vegetarian bak kut teh.
“PAS also had its own version of bak kut teh in 2018. So don’t pretend you don’t know anything about this,” said Tiong as he held up a printout of an article of PAS’ national unity committee in 2018 introducing halal bak kut teh, which was cooked with mutton and chicken, at the Seri Setia state constituency in Selangor.
“Listing bak kut teh as a heritage dish comes under the National Heritage Act 2005, and is not linked to any race or religion issues.
“I urge all parties, including the MPs, to respect each other’s culture to preserve national unity and harmony. In accordance with the prime minister’s Madani concept, the government takes care of all races,” he said in response to a supplementary question posed by RSN Rayer (Jelutong-PH) during the winding-up speech today.
Rayer had asked Tiong about the statements issued by certain MPs against concerts and beer festivals that could scare away tourists who are interested in coming to Malaysia.
However, opposition MPs tried to press Tiong further on the matter, only to be shut down by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor by citing Standing Order 37(2) on the proper use of the time allocated.
In response, Tiong said: “the rest of the ‘kong kali kong’, I will answer in the written replies.”
On February 28, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh called for Tiong’s resignation, urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to remove him over the ministry’s decision to recognise bak kut teh as a heritage food.
The ministry’s heritage commission last month granted bak kut teh, kuih lapis, kuih karas, Sarawak kolok mee, uttapam, dodol kukus tahi minyak and nasi ambeng, among others, heritage status.
Last year, Tiong told former tourism minister and former Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Rais Yatim the same story about bak kut teh not being exclusively a pork dish after Rais expressed concerns about the proposal to name it as a heritage food. – March 13, 2024