Sarawak should have own version of ‘MasterChef’ to promote Sarawak cuisine, says deputy minister

Snowdan (fifth right) poses for a group photo with SAGO incubator participants and other guests at the launch of SAGO Festival 2024 in Kuching on July 21, 2024.

BY Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, July 21: Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, And Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan has suggested that Sarawak could have her version of the ‘Master Chef’ programme to spur interest in culinary arts.

Snowdan urged food festival organisers to develop this kind of programme for young people to showcase their cooking skills so that Sarawak cuisine could be greater promoted.

He said locals could be sent overseas to join international culinary exhibitions to promote Sarawak food culture and tradition.

He noted that Sarawak has 34 ethnic groups and over 40 sub-ethnic groups with many culinary delicacies to share.

“So by developing such a programme, we have diverse food to share and promote in Sarawak to the rest of the world,” he added.

Snowdan made these remarks before launching Sarawak Gastronomy (SAGO) Festival 2024 at a shopping mall here today.

Later when interviewed, he highlighted that his ministry currently has more than RM6 million in grants under the “Dana Mudahcara Warisan, Kesenian dan Kebudayaan Sarawak” to facilitate Sarawak’s heritage, arts and culture sectors.

Snowdan elaborated that funding for events can be applied for through this fund, including for workshops, classes, courses, forums, seminars and the local community.

He said such activities can help in capacity building, for the creative industry or Sarawak’s arts, culture and heritage sectors.

“The fund is open to Sarawakian artists (individuals), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and non-profit organisations (NPOs) registered under ROS (Registrar of Societies) and based in Sarawak,” he further disclosed.

Snowdan also highlighted that his ministry is studying and gazetting many more authentic Sarawak food and giving intellectual property (IP) rights.

“We have our Laksa already gazetted and was dubbed by the late and famous American chef and author Anthony Bourdain as ‘the breakfast of the gods’ and I believe there is more to come. So our ministry is looking into this but I cannot give more details,” he said.

Meanwhile, Snowdan expressed his delight to see the involvement of culinary experts from West Kalimantan, Indonesia at the festival.

“Their presence enriches the festival and strengthens cultural ties with our closest neighbour, and to learn from each other as culinary diplomacy is also crucial to the friendship between two countries.

“With the development of Nusantara, I encourage more collaborations in such festivals in the future.”

He later presented plaques to seven participants who completed the SAGO incubator 10-week programme.

Also present were Culinary Heritage and Arts Society Sarawak (CHASS) chairwoman Datin Dona Drury-Wee and Chief Festival Coordinator and Director of SAGO Group Arif Abdul Rahman. — DayakDaily