Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen is surprised by the flap, including in Singapore, over her remarks to claim ownership of some food which are tradition to Malaysia.

"I'm actually very surprised by the various responses from the various people of my statement last week that we have to claim ownership of some of our food," Ng said when asked at a press conference on Malaysian Tennis Open held at her ministry today.

"I never said that we patent the food," she said.

Ng said the Tourism Ministry would promote Malaysian food as a major strategy to further boost tourism in this country and it was important for Malaysians to know the root of the country's food heritage.

NONE The focus this year is on laksa and nasi lemak, two of the most popular dishes among locals.

"I will reveal the promotion strategy later but now, I want to focus on it as a Malaysia tourism product," she said.

At the recent Malaysia International Gourmet Festival, Ng said her ministry would identify and lay claim to certain key dishes synonymous with Malaysia's identity.

"We cannot continue to let other countries hijack our food. We have to lay claim to our food," she said.

Promoting sports tourism

Ng also said that the 1Malaysia F1 Team, which will debut in the World Formula One Championship next year, will further boost sports tourism in the country.

She said that locals as well as Malaysians all over the world will turn up to see for themselves the Malaysian team in action.

"Any development of any sport will definitely be a plus point and as far as tourism is concerned, it will attract tourists and Malaysians to personally come and see the event," she said.

She said world-class events like the Malaysian Open tennis tournament and the Malaysian Grand Prix F1 race were major tourism products.

The government was helping to promote the Malaysian Open tennis tournament from Sept 26 to Oct 4, she said, adding that publicity on the event, including 'live' coverage, would reach out to 200 million viewers globally.

- Bernama