The youth leader of Malaysia's United Malays National Organisation (Umno), Muhammad Akmal Saleh, demanded the termination of Malaysia Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Tiong King Sing.

His offence? Tiong listed bak kut teh as one of Malaysia's national heritage dishes on Feb. 23.

Say no to bak kut teh: Umno youth leader

Akmal took to Facebook on Feb. 29 to criticise the decision of listing bak kut teh, a Chinese herbal pork rib soup, along with nine other dishes declared to be national heritage objects.

"If the minister cannot think about the sensitivity of the Malaysian people and what is its relevance in making decisions, it's time we request PM Anwar Ibrahim to fire him," Akmal said.

Demanded termination of Tiong

Akmal said that it is better to acknowledge other cultural dishes that can be eaten by all citizens of the country regardless of race or religion, such as Chinese fried rice, instead of bak kut teh.

"If the director-general of the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia) can be demoted due to deteriorating performance, then the same excuse can be applied to the minister who is not only deteriorating, but the worst minister in history."

Tiong's demotion of Tourism Malaysia DG

Akmal was referring to Tiong's action against Ammar Abdul Ghapar, director-general of Tourism Malaysia on Feb. 23.

It was initially reported that Tiong had fired Ammar.

But Tiong later clarified on Feb. 24 that Ammar was not fired but demoted instead, reported Malay Mail.

Tiong said Ammar was demoted for underperforming and failing to increase the number of tourists in Malaysia.

Background of bak kut teh saga

Bak kut teh was listed as one of the 10 national heritage food items in the Malaysia Declaration of Heritage Object 2024 by heritage commissioner Mohamad Muda Bahadin on Feb. 23, reported Malay Mail.

The other nine dishes are local staples and delicacies such as burasak, mee kolok, nasi ambeng, dodol kukus, kuih lapis, kuih karas, uthappam, jeruk tuhau and air kathira.

According to Malaysia media The Star, Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah suggested in 2023 for bak kut teh to be listed as a national heritage food following a CNA documentary claiming that the dish could have originated in Singapore.

The move was criticised and questioned by MPs from the opposition due to the lack of religious considerations.

Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah, Perikatan Nasional MP for Langkawi, noted that bak kut teh was not part of the 30 most popular local dishes in Malaysia.

Top photos via Akmal Saleh/Facebook & Getty Images