SIBU: Hosts of the 1Malaysia Food Fair beginning this Friday assures that the gourmet event at Sibu Town Square Phase II will not be dominated by Taiwanese food promotion.
A banner near Sibu Town Square promoting the 1Malaysia Food Fair which will open on Friday.
This may sound strange or unseemly to be mentioned at such a time, but a senior staff member of Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who oversees the event hosted by three associations under its umbrella, said yesterday the nagging worry was not unfounded after locals encountered Taiwanese fare being aggressively promoted in recent food fairs.
She said this had prompted locals to question if a Malaysian food event has been ‘hijacked’ into becoming a Taiwanese affair.
The spokeswoman allayed such fears yesterday, saying the food fair this year would be “very local” and focused on the cultural cuisine of the ethnic groups of Sarawak – the Chinese, Dayak and Malay-Melanau.
She admitted being wary of complaints from townsfolk on the worrisome trend of recent fairs being ‘invaded’ by popular Taiwan chicken chop, pearl milk tea and other Taiwanese delicacies.
She said: “The response this year is overwhelming with over 200 stall operators having registered. Among them, there is only one trader who has applied to serve Taiwanese food.”
She said two more owners would be partially selling Taiwanese food besides selling local fare.
“That’s all. The rest are local foods.”
The 1Malaysia Food Fair is an annual event inspired by the government to promote the spirit of sharing among Malaysians as they come together for food.
The culinary affair has proven attractive to foreign visitors.
The food fair in Sibu is hosted by three associations under Sibu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, namely Federation of Hawkers of Sibu and Meradong, Sibu Central Market Hawkers Association and Sibu Petty Traders Association.
The event is backed up by Sibu Municipal Council (SMC).
Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, who is also the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, will open the event on Saturday at 8pm.
The spokeswoman said traders were mainly those from Sibu, who are veterans in the food service line.
She said there were also family members who pooled resources to promote their family food.
She called on the participating traders to cooperate with the chamber to serve the best of Malaysian foods.
“Clean and hygienic food handling is important. Traders must also keep the eatery surroundings neat for visitors.”
On the efforts of the chamber, she said they would also stage various entertainment to lure visitors to the food fair.
“There will be two singing contests, one of which is the 1Malaysia song contest to bring people of the various communities together.”
She said there would also be modern and cultural dance competitions, aside from issuing invitations to local and Peninsula artistes.
“We shall also invite a troupe from Kuching. We are doing our best not only to provide irresistible food, but recreational activities as well to keep all guests happy.”
She said a stage for show-time has been erected amidst the over 200 stalls being put up.
The spokeswoman said the list of entertainment programmes would be displayed on a billboard at the front of the fair.
In an earlier press conference, chamber president Hu Yu Siong said the food fair would be made grander as over 600 hawkers throughout Malaysia would arrive for their National Hawker Day celebration on Nov 18.
He said the visitors were
also scheduled to attend a meeting.
Hu too reassured that Sarawak traditional cuisines would be the mainstay of the event.
Call the chamber on 084-317831 or 326959 for enquiries.