DESPITE losing his sight nearly two decades ago, 49-year-old chef Low Wee Keong is gearing up for one of Malaysia’s most prestigious cooking events, the Genting Culinary Classic 2025!
It will be held on June 10 and 11 at the Genting International Showroom (GISR), Resorts World Genting in Pahang.
Low has made it into the top 20 finalists of the competition, selected from over 3,000 local entries. As a visually-impaired chef, his achievement stands out, but he isn’t stopping there.
“I am proud to have made it this far. Now, my goal is to give it everything I have and do my best to win,” said Low during an interview at his residence in Bukit Mertajam recently.
For the competition, Low is preparing a dish close to his heart: a Peranakan Nyonya-style ‘Kapitan Steam Fish’.
But it is no ordinary recipe. Crafted with his own creative twist, he uses seafood ingredients such as ikan talang (doublespotted queenfish) to enhance the dish’s rich, traditional flavours.
“This is a heritage dish — old-school Malaysian food with a modern touch,” he explained.
Being blind hasn’t stopped Low from mastering the kitchen. Instead of sight, he relies on his remaining senses namely hearing, touch, taste, and smell to cook and compete on par with fully-sighted chefs.
“I may not be able to see, but I feel everything. Every sizzle, every aroma, every texture guides me,” said Low.
The Genting Culinary Classic 2025 is hosted by Resorts World Genting in collaboration with the HAPA® Group.
It marks Resorts World Genting’s first-ever culinary competition, a groundbreaking initiative that celebrates Malaysia’s vibrant culinary scene and is set to become an annual event.
The competition is open to food lovers and chefs aged 18 and above, offering a platform to showcase skill, creativity, and passion.
Winners won’t just walk away with prizes but also career-making exposure.
The grand champion will earn RM25,000 in total prizes (RM20,000 in cash and RM5,000 in kind) and the title of Grand National Winner.
The second and third place winners will receive RM15,000 and RM10,000 worth of prizes, respectively. The top dishes may even be featured at Resorts World Genting’s dining outlets.
Low’s journey to this point is one of resilience. In 2007, an industrial accident robbed him of his sight. At the time, he was a ground engineer with Singapore Airlines.
“Cooking wasn’t even my passion then. It took me nearly three years to accept myself and find the strength to rejoin society,” he shared.
His turning point came thanks to a supportive friend from Australia, who encouraged him to embrace life again and sparked the idea of starting a YouTube channel.
That’s how Blind In The Kitchen was born in 2019. It is a one-man production where Low not only cooks but also handles all the editing using software tailored for the visually-impaired.
“I do everything myself, from creating recipes to chopping ingredients, cooking, and editing videos. The only help I get is from a friend who acts as my cameraman.
“During filming, I step gently on his foot to signal when to stop or resume recording,” Low shared.
In addition to creating content, Low regularly gives motivational talks at schools throughout Penang, sharing his story of perseverance and hope.
“I don’t want to just cook. I want to inspire,” he concluded.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix courtesy of Low’s social media pages