part 3 of the food claim rant

Ms Politician, i think you are deranged. Look, even Malaysians don't agree with you! Seriously, why am i still fucking paying taxes ah??? for you to sit there to talk cock ah?

The Electric New Paper :
M'sian Crab Grab
M'sians puzzled by food claims
We share common culture with S'pore, they say
SINGAPORE foodies aren't the only ones perplexed by Malaysia's sudden claim on chilli crab and chicken rice.
By Veena Bharwani
19 September 2009

SINGAPORE foodies aren't the only ones perplexed by Malaysia's sudden claim on chilli crab and chicken rice.

Some Malaysians reacted with a single word: Huh?

Malaysian Malek Ali, 42, said: 'Is that really possible?

'I think it is a just a sign of cultural wars between nations.'

He cited the recent uproar in Indonesia over the use of a Balinese dance in a promotional spot for a television documentary series on Malaysia.

He said: 'That has got everyone heated up.'

On claims of ownership, the founder of BFM 89.9, a Malaysian-based business radio station, said: 'At the end of the day, these dishes are a product of Singapore's and Malaysia's common cultural heritage and the two countries should be allowed to promote it in any way that they want.

'It's like asking who owns spaghetti - Italy or China, where it was originally conceived.'

Added Malaysian Vickie Gurbani, 30, who works in business development in Singapore.

'Both Malaysia and Singapore have their own versions of these dishes.

Different ingredients

'You can't say the dishes are owned by either Malaysia or Singapore as they are different. The taste and ingredients differ.'

But he added that it was a bit strange that Malaysian Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen spoke about laying a claim to Hainanese chicken rice and chilli crab.

'These dishes, or dishes similar to them, can be found in Singapore and even China.

'If you want to identify something as being distinctly Malaysian or Singaporean, it has to have a uniquely different taste.

'For example, Malaysian roti canai and Singaporean prata are completely different - they are unique to each country.'

Another Malaysian, Ms Meera Sivasothy, 37, said: 'Ten thousand stores sell nasi lemak and they all will taste different. How do you claim something is yours when there are so many variations on one dish?

'Malaysian food is fantastic and I don't think we need to claim ownership to get people to recognise that.'

Added another Malaysian, Mr Faizal Tareh, 30, a United Nations volunteer : 'There is no point laying a claim on these dishes. Where does that take us?

'It is not something worth talking about or fighting about.'