Came across this particularly interesting piece of news about national food from a Malaysian friend of mine that I felt deserved a short 4koma…
KUALA LUMPUR – MALAYSIA is starting a food fight.
Laksa, nasi lemak, Hainanese chicken rice, chilli crab and bak kut teh are all Malaysian dishes, Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen declared.
On Wednesday, Datuk Seri Dr Ng accused other countries of ‘hijacking’ local dishes such as laksa and nasi lemak, and said it was high time that Malaysia claimed them as Malaysian.
‘We cannot continue to let other countries hijack our food,’ she said, without naming the countries.
‘Chilli crab is Malaysian. Hainanese chicken rice is Malaysian. We have to lay claim to our food,’ the minister said after she launched the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival.
But some food critics disagreed, saying that it would not be possible for a country to claim ownership over the dishes.
Malaysian celebrity chef Rohani Jelani said that food in general is not politically divided.
As people move from one country to another, they also take with them the recipes of their favourite food.
‘I think it is difficult to claim ownership or to say exactly what food originated from where. This is because there are no boundaries when it comes to food,’ she told The Straits Times.
Singapore food celebrity K.F. Seetoh agreed that it would be impossible for anyone to claim ownership over food, even if a certain dish is easily available at a certain place.
Source: The Straits Times
And here’s the 4koma.
As usual, click on it for a larger version.
Gee, I wonder why it was called HAINANESE Chicken Rice then.
And isn’t Bak Kut Teh made from PORK RIBS? (well not everyone in Malaysia is a muslim so yeah……)
Malaysia, Truly Asia.
Yesh, simple 4koma this time. I’m half dead from tests.
nutcase23 blogs mainly about his figurines as well as cosplay and anime related events occurring in Singapore. With his trusty camera, he stalks exhibition halls and event grounds, taking shots for the blog as well as himself. Is a rabid fan of Lucky Star. 
LOL “MALAYSIAN CHICKEN RICE” Well, if they do want to do so… we’ll come up with Singaporean Chicken rice.
after island dispute, now we have a food dispute ? good gracious. do we need a VISA to be allowed to eat overseas food next time ?
seriously, for me Indonesian, we have a long problem about this plagiarism (batik, reog ponorogo, and even Pendet dance). I feel calm a bit after read this story, because we aren’t only the victim.
sigh~*facepalm.svg*
When it comes to food or product, we cannot claim total ownership to them just like the cultures. I agree we should not put the boundaries to food.
We cannot patent the batik, turmeric, rendang but we can patent the design or the brand of that food or products.
I’m so sad about the irresponsible media who exaggerate the matter just to reap the profits from their catching headline news. Thus making their loyal readers or viewers to just believe the stories without discussing the matter in polite manner.
turned out to be a pretty sensitive issue!
Since I’m not the one with the throwing stars and bamboo spears, I don’t feel there’s anything too wrong with it.
Singapore was once a Malaysian State , Its Obvious that It has Malaysian Dishes .
All , I’m saying is to stop fighting and instead be friends for a change .
I’m Malaysian and I know there is a bit of Competition between the two countries but pwease stop this nonsense and start working to together for a change ^_^ .