MALAYSIAN FOOD TO BE PROMOTED AS MAJOR TOURIST DRAW

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen
is surprised by the flap, including in Singapore, over her remarks to claim ownership of some food which are tradition to Malaysia.

"I'm actually very surprised by the various response from the various people
of my statement last week that we have to claim ownership of some of our food,"
Dr Ng said when asked at a press conference on Malaysian Tennis Open held at her
ministry here Wednesday.

"I never said that we patent the food," she said.

Dr Ng said the Tourism Ministry would promote Malaysian food as a major
strategy to further boost tourism in this countryand it was important for
Malaysians to know the root of the country's food heritage.

The focus this year is on laksa and nasi lemak (platter of rice wrapped in
banana leaf, with cucumber slices, small dried anchovies, roasted peanuts, hard
boiled egg, and hot spicy sauce at its core), two of the most popular
dishes among locals.

"I will reveal the promotion strategy later but now, I want to focus on it
as a Malaysia tourism product," she said.

At the recent Malaysia International Gourmet Festival, Dr Ng said her
ministry would identify and lay claim to certain key dishes synonymous with
Malaysia's identity.

"We cannot continue to let other countries hijack our food. We have to lay
claim to our food," she said.

-- BERNAMA