GEDONG: Heritage cuisine competitions such as the Batang Sadong Heritage Cuisine Competition do not just highlight the talents of participants but also identify new products which can bring economic value to residents in the area.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri emphasised that monetising heritage cuisine could boost economic activities in an area and generate income for the entire community there through tourism activities.
“Therefore, we need to make an effort to innovate and be creative so we can add value to the existing menu to produce heritage cuisine which still retains its tradition while at the same time having its own uniqueness.”
She said this at the Batang Sadong Heritage Cuisine Finals programme for the Gedong area at the Gedong Community Hall today (March 26).
She congratulated the participants of the Gedong Heritage Cuisine Competition, which initially involved a total of 40 persons from Zone 1 Gedong, Zone 2 Lubok Punggor, and Zone 3 Semalatong.
“The screening was held last November, and 15 participants made it to the finals. We have created healthy competition and witnessed Gedong’s heritage culinary products which have cultural heritage value and can be new tourism attractions in this area.”
She also congratulated the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Women section of Batang Sadong and all those involved in making the programme a success.
On another note, Nancy, who is also Batang Sadong MP, pointed out that Gedong was well known not only to locals but also attracted visitors from outside the state such as from Peninsular Malaysia with its specialties such as pais ikan bauk, pekasam ikan, Mi Udang Gumpey, Seri Gedong Songket, and others.
“What’s more, with the infrastructure facilities which have been and will be completed in Batang Sadong, Gedong will certainly be listed as another ecotourism destination in the state which must be visited.”
She said among the tourism projects in the area were the upgrading of the clock tower and name sign at Dataran Gedong and the construction of the name sign ‘Gedong’.
“Meanwhile, the erosion prevention project on the banks of Sungai Gedong can also be an attraction once it is completed.”
As such, she urged residents of the area to generate income through tourism, arts, and culture.
At the Batang Sadong Heritage Cuisine Finals programme, she explored and tasted the various heritage cuisines prepared by the participants.
