Deputy Premier: Culinary arts can foster global friendship, cultural exchange
Dr Sim (second right), together with Ling Ling (third right), Wee (third left) and Blanca (second left), sampling the Tapas of Sarawak during the opening of the event. – Photo by Mohd Faisal Ahmad
KUCHING (June 18): Culinary arts can serve as a bridge for fostering international friendship, cultural exchange and sustainable development, said Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
He emphasised that food and culture, which are integral in daily life in Sarawak, have the power to connect people globally.
'Many people are not familiar with Sarawak. Because of that, they have yet to discover the treasures we offer.
'Our neighbour, Sabah, is more well-known, but sometimes, the best things are discovered last while the lesser ones are found first.
'We are not talking about race or religion — we are simply talking about food. And food, in itself, is a symbol of our unity,' he remarked when officiating the TAPAS Competition, Exhibition & Seminar 2025 yesterday, which runs from June 17 to 19 at KTS Garden here.
As such, Dr Sim expressed hope that the cultural exchange with Valladolid, Spain would serve as an opportunity to further introduce Sarawak's culture, cuisine, and creative potential to the world.
Interestingly, he observed that the national flags of both regions share 75 per cent of the same colours — red and yellow — and noted that while Kuching is recognised as a Unesco City of Gastronomy, Valladolid holds the title of Unesco City of Film.
He also thanked the organisers for curating the entire competition ecosystem, including the rules, recycling practices, climate impact awareness, and the use of plastic.
Meanwhile, Dr Sim announced that the Kuching Food Festival 2025 is set to run from July 25 to Aug 17, with a target of attracting one million visitors.
'It is well known that Sarawakians living in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore often bring their friends home to sample the wide variety of food at the festival.
'We are even providing opportunities for students from institutions of higher learning to sell their creative food ideas to the public.
'Just look at how food brings people together — this is the kind of unity that draws people closer,' he said, adding that Sarawak has much to learn from other cultures in shaping a better future.
Also present at the event were Minister of Tourism, Events and Urban Branding of Valladolid, Spain, Blanca Jimenez Cuadrillero; Kuching South mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng; and Sarawak International Technical and Vocational Education Association president Sim Ling Ling. culinary arts cultural exchange Dr Sim Kui Hian local food
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
20 minutes ago
- Barnama
ROUND 2025 Showcases Unity Through Cultural Exchange
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN-Korea Music Festival (ROUND) 2025 was officially launched here this evening by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, in a vibrant ceremony celebrating unity through music and cultural exchange. The event brought together diplomats, cultural leaders, artists and guests from ASEAN member states and the Republic of Korea, marking a significant milestone in regional cooperation. Khairul Firdaus highlighted the festival's theme, 'Come Around, Here to Shine', as a reflection of Malaysia's commitment to fostering a new model of cultural diplomacy under its ASEAN Chairmanship this year. 'Through the ASEAN-Korea Music Festival, we reaffirm the importance of cultural exchange as a conduit for social cohesion, deepening our mutual understanding and strengthening the bonds between the people of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea,' he said in a statement today. He added that Malaysia continues to prioritise creative and cultural cooperation as a vital tool for people-to-people connectivity and regional development, in line with the spirit of Malaysia MADANI – an inclusive framework promoting sustainability, compassion and mutual respect. The two-day festival, jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), features performances by acclaimed artists from both ASEAN and Korea. Meanwhile, Republic of Korea Ambassador to Malaysia Yeo Seung-bae, said the festival comes at an opportune time as Korea hosts APEC and Malaysia chairs ASEAN in 2025. 'Korea's hosting of APEC and Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship this year offer a timely and valuable opportunity to elevate our cooperation to the next level. 'Building on this shared vision at the leadership level, our two countries are set to pursue a broad range of collaborative initiatives with cultural exchange taking centre stage,' he said.
Borneo Post
17 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Embrace 3.0 returns to Kuching, celebrating community, compassion for animals
Yap (third left) joins (from right) Sim, Chia and Yeo in promoting the 'Embrace Programme 3.0', to take place at Tropics City in Kuching next month. KUCHING (June 20): The third edition of the 'Embrace Programme', run by the Padawan Chapter of Junior Chamber International (JCI), will highlight youths, community, and animal lovers. Taking place at Tropics City here this July 4 to 6, the programme is a collaborative effort with the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) and B.E.E Hive Events. According to the deputy organising head Martiana Chia, with a continued mission of building a more compassionate and empowered community, the programme will feature a free rabies vaccination 'drive-thru', pet adoption booths, pet fashion show, baby goat mini-farm, live performances, and eco-conscious workshops such as soap-making and natural fabric dyeing. 'We are honoured to partner with SSPCA and The Hive Event by Bee Gastronomy for Embrace Programme 3.0. Over the past two editions, we've witnessed how this programme has opened doors for youth development and community impact. 'We are calling for more vendors to join us in creating an engaging experience for the public,' she said in a press conference held at the Kota Sentosa Service Centre here recently. Among those present were Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap, JCI Padawan president Alaric Sim, and The Hive Event by Bee Gastronomy representative Joanne Yeo. Sim meanwhile highlighted the programme as being aligned with JCI's core values and also Sarawak's development goals. 'Building the community is what JCI is about. We cultivate youth leadership by giving young people the opportunities to channel their creativity and energy into impactful causes. 'Embrace supports Sarawak's goals of prosperity, inclusivity and sustainability by creating income opportunities for vendors, welcoming every member of the family including pets, and hosting eco-friendly workshops.' As for Yap, he encouraged the public to visit the event, support local talents, and be inspired by the creativity and energy of the youths. 'The Embrace programme is a shining example of what happens when we invest in our young people and give them the platform that they deserve. 'Let us continue to support such positive initiatives for the betterment of our community and the future of Sarawak,' he said. For more information, follow @ @jcipadawan, and @sspca on major social media platforms.
Borneo Post
18 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Foley artist elevates Chinese cinema through magic of sound
Han brushes a feather fan against his palm to simulate the fluttering of birds in flight at the prop room of his studio in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on June 4, 2025. – Xinhua photo QINGDAO (June 20): In a 60-square-meter prop room in the port city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, a collection of seemingly worn-out items, including rusty chains, yellowed textbooks and mismatched enamel cups, awaits their moment to shine. For Han Ruida, a foley artist with 16 years of experience, these are not just old junk, but treasures that breathe life into the world of cinema. 'Foley artists use a variety of props and techniques to recreate and interpret sounds that cannot be captured on set during film and television production,' Han explained. With a simple snap of celery, the sound of a bone breaking is perfectly synchronised with the visuals on screen. A piece of leather placed on a feather fan and vigorously waved can simulate the fluttering of birds in flight. Pouring sand from a salt shaker onto tin foil at different heights creates the ebb and flow of rain. Chewing on a mouthful of chive leaves brings the scene of a cow grazing to life. Over the years, Han has explored the sonic potential of ordinary objects, using sound to 'act' behind the scenes. Sometimes, the challenge lies in creating sounds that are more vivid than reality. When footsteps on broken glass are needed, simply dropping ice cubes into a glass won't do. The sound lacks the desired expressiveness and texture. After countless trials, Han found the right mix by adding leaves, plastic sheets, and fine sand to a basin of glass shards. The combination gave the sound a richer, more dynamic quality, turning ice into something far more expressive. Photo taken on June 4, 2025 shows the prop room of foley artist Han Ruida's studio in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. – Xinhua photo In 2017, Qingdao earned the title of Unesco City of Film, becoming the first city in China to receive the honor. Since then, with major productions like 'The Wandering Earth' filmed there, China's domestic film industry has taken significant strides toward industrialisation. The roles within the industry have grown increasingly specialised, and foley artists, once seen as technical support, are now expected to think like directors and screenwriters, using sound to deepen storytelling and enrich the cinematic experience. Even something as simple as footsteps holds a world of complexity. 'Footsteps convey emotions. The sound of someone walking with enthusiasm is different from that of someone in sorrow. Children and the elderly also have distinct footsteps,' Han said, adding that he once spent three years just studying the nuances of footsteps. 'While computer-generated sound effects can achieve basic results, it is the organic, lifelike sounds that truly touch people's hearts,' he added. For foley artists, real-life sounds are not just auditory stimuli; they are a wellspring of inspiration. When a sound that does not exist in reality is needed for a plot, the foley artist becomes a 'magician'. While working on a key prop sound for a science fiction film, Han tried rolling steel balls on different types of wood, but the results were unsatisfactory. Finally, he found a transformer at a scrapyard. The steel balls rolling on it produced a wide range of sound variations in a short time, creating the crucial sound needed for the plot. Completing the foley work for a film takes at least a month. Sometimes, just a few seconds of footage can correspond to hundreds of soundtracks. Han rubs a gasoline drum with a violin bow to simulate the squeaking sound when an iron door opens at the prop room of his studio in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on April 6, 2025. – Xinhua photo Today, Han's sound library contains thousands of sounds he has collected himself, including wind, cicada chirps and the sound of his loved one combing her hair. 'Extracting sounds from the noisy world, deconstructing and refining them into individual elements, and then using them to complete and enrich more film and television works is a wonderful and magical process,' Han said. From film locations and production bases to a hub of the film industry, Qingdao has grown alongside China's film industry. Today, the port city is building a comprehensive film ecosystem that spans creative development, production, IP commercialisation, and AI-powered collaboration. Data shows that from 2018 to 2024, among the top 50 domestic box-office hits, eight have production connections with Qingdao. – Xinhua China cinema foley SFX sound Xinhua
