When it comes to gastronomic delights, few rivalries are as fiery as that between neighbouring countries Singapore and Malaysia. This passionate fervour is embodied in their latest food feud over a cherished Southeast Asian dish – Nasi Lemak. This fracas was ignited when Catherine McKenna, Canada’s ex-Minister of Environment and Climate Change, named Nasi Lemak as the “most delicious breakfast in Singapore” in a tweet, sending the foodie communities in both nations into a frenzy.
McKenna’s social media post featured an image of her Nasi Lemak breakfast, served with a chicken cutlet, sunny-side-up egg, ikan bilis (anchovies), and crackers. The tweet, posted during the Ecosperity Week – a sustainable development conference in Singapore – has stirred over 2.2 million views and sparked a fresh round of the long-standing food dispute between the two countries.
The roots of Nasi Lemak extend deep into the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia. It’s a dish that both nations lay claim to, with Malaysia considering it a national dish. The meal traditionally comprises rice cooked in coconut milk, garnished with ikan bilis, sliced cucumbers, fried fish, and a spicy sambal sauce. Today, countless renditions of the dish adorn tables, featuring a plethora of side dishes.
McKenna’s Nasi Lemak proclamation triggered a slew of responses from Malaysian netizens. Some critics suggested the rice portion was too small and the dish was “bland”, with the sambal resembling “Heinz tomato sauce” or “tomato puree”. One Twitter user posted a photo of their own Nasi Lemak plate with roasted chicken thigh and a larger serving of rice, accumulating 1.1 million views and close to 2800 retweets.
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Addressing the outpouring of comments, McKenna acknowledged hitting a nerve with Malaysians, who believe Nasi Lemak is a Malay dish and superior in taste there. She agreed to their feedback about the small portions and the lack of sambal, promising to taste the dish in Kuala Lumpur soon.
This exchange has led to several humorous and wise comments from netizens. While some felt the reaction from Malaysian netizens was “un-nasi-ssary”, others offered advice like, “Do not even try to argue about Nasi Lemak with any Malaysian. Save yourself from the fire please.”
This culinary clash mirrors the historical food fights between Singapore and Malaysia, both countries sharing a robust obsession for food. Whether it’s about Nasi Lemak or the world’s best desserts, these nations never shy away from a gastronomic disagreement.
Remember, the origin of this news is based on the Malaymail website.
