PENANG Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has called on hawkers and traders across the state to remain steadfast in upholding the highest standards of cleanliness, food quality and customer service.
Speaking at the MBPP Hawkers’ Day 2025 celebration at Jen Hotel in George Town this evening, Chow stressed that these commitments are essential to safeguarding and elevating Penang’s reputation as a leading destination for tourism, gastronomy and cultural heritage.
“In our continued efforts to ensure Penang remains clean, green, safe and healthy, I would like to urge all traders and hawkers to strengthen the practice of waste segregation at source, reduce the use of single-use plastics and manage used cooking oil responsibly.
“These measures are vital to preserving Penang’s standing as one of the country’s top culinary and tourism destinations,” he said in his speech.
Chow also announced that the state has nominated 10 traditional Penang dishes to the National Heritage Department to be gazetted as National Heritage items as part of ongoing efforts to protect Penang’s rich culinary legacy.
“The dishes are nasi kandar, pasembur, mee udang, mee sotong, roti benggali, char koay kak (fried rice cake), hokkien mee, mee jawa, oh chien (fried oyster omelette) and kerabu meehoon.
“Good news, I have been informed that the National Heritage Department has completed the factual evaluation stage and is prepared to officially recognise these dishes as National Heritage.
“If successful, this will pave the way for these iconic foods to be nominated to Unesco as intangible cultural heritage of global significance.
“Ultimately, this gazettement is crucial not only to honour and preserve the culinary traditions passed down through generations, but also to ensure that Penang’s world-renowned gastronomy continues to be protected, promoted and celebrated for generations to come,” he added.
Also present were Penang Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, Penang Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran, MBPP secretary Cheong Chee Hong and organising chairman Nicholas Theng Jie Wey, who is also an MBPP councillor.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat