SINGAPORE & MALAYSIA – After applying for more than two years, Singapore’s hawker culture has finally been recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) under the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
(Hawker Center in Penang, Photo via Instagram @Esther Ying) 
(Cendol Stall in Penang, Photo via Esther Ying)
This comes five years after Singapore’s successful bid to have the Botanic Gardens listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
“Hawkers take inspiration from the confluence of these cultures, adapting dishes to local tastes and contexts. Today, hawker centers across Singapore continue serving the needs of diverse communities in residential, recreational and work districts”, UNESCO said.
Moving forward, UNESCO has also mentioned in their latest press statement saying that it plays a crucial role in enhancing community interactions and strengthening the social fabric in Singapore.
After the news first came out, Singapore’s neighbour and all-time food rival ——the Malaysians are unhappy about it.
According to Sin Chew Daily, Datuk Lim Dong Ying, the President of the Penang Hawker Association, said in an interview that Penang hawker food has a higher reputation globally, cheaper and more delicious than the Lion city.
He added that travellers would find many Singaporean hawkers advertised themselves as Malaysia food in the hawker centres, with famous names such as “Penang Laksa” and “Penang Fried Kway Teow”.
“It’s a pity that Singapore’s hawker culture has already succeeded, and even ahead of Penang!”, Datuk Lim said.
Besides, Malaysians also expressed their views on social media and some of them are salty about it:
Singapore's "hawker culture" has been recognised by UNESCO, with the agency adding the city-state's tradition of communal dining at hawker centres and open-air food courts to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. pic.twitter.com/3a6EeKloPv
— BFM News (@NewsBFM) December 17, 2020
Nothing is SG's. Only that they're better at claiming it so others that are too slow, like Malaysia, will lose out.@TourismMalaysia take note.
— Ω (@0m3g4_2002) December 17, 2020
Some give constructive ideas on how to improve our hawker culture:
Some even blame UNESCO:
Even the biggest Chinese media company in Malaysia can’t stand it.
On the other hand, Singaporeans seems prepared for all the #claims :
Waiting for the inevitable kpkb from neighbouring country. https://t.co/0Wh4g3qmHO
— mrbrown (@mrbrown) December 17, 2020
What do you think? Comment below and let us know!
Sources: UNESCO, Sin Chew Daily
Editor: Raymond Chen
