“Racist.” That is how celebrity chef Redzuawan Ismail, better known as Chef Wan, described a proposal by Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran to ban foreign cooks from restaurants in the country.
"I find this new ruling to be racist. How can we stop other races in this world from acquiring knowledge and skill in any cuisine? Food, like love, has no boundaries.
"We have many Malaysian chefs across the world working in so many cities doing the same thing.
"So my question to the minister why is it different? Suddenly other immigrants in this country cannot cook Malaysian food simply because they are not Malaysian? Why do we need to discriminate (against) them?" he asked on Instagram.
Redzuawan noted it was unfair to only be offended when others say there cannot be a non-Malay finance minister or attorney-general, but at the same time discriminate against non-Malaysians.
Yesterday, Kulasegaran said that by year end, all Malaysian eateries will be required to hire only local cooks.
However, he has since clarified that this was just a proposal, and that a definitive decision had yet to be made. He also said that this only applied to local eateries and not foreign restaurants.
‘Standards can be learned’
Besides reducing the number of foreign workers in the country, many believe the move is linked to complaints about hygiene and food safety standards practiced by eateries that employ migrants.
Redzuawan, however, said these standards can be taught and enforced properly.
He claimed that many eateries, and even hotels which are unhygienic, are able to bribe inspectors to avoid punishment.
"So who do you blame?" he asked.
Hiring Malaysian chefs, added Redzuawan, is no guarantee of better standards or even good food.
"There a many who are filthy and undisciplined, mister minister!
"You should wear a bloody apron and work for yourself for some time to experience all this... you will be shocked to hear how bad the hospital industry is now.”
The chef also shared how there are good Malaysian dishes cooked by Bangladeshi and Pakistani chefs, as well as good French and foreign cuisines cooked by Malaysians.
He said Malaysian should be proud to pass on its culinary heritage to the world. -Mkini
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