Last year, a debate over whether Bak Kut Teh, a pork bone broth dish, should be acknowledged as a Malaysian national heritage food gained widespread attention across the nation following a proposal made by Tebrau Member of Parliament (MP) Jimmy Puah.

During the Dewan Rakyat session in June 2023, Puah advocated for the government's recognition of the dish as a national heritage food to prevent other countries, such as Singapore, from claiming it as their own.

However, this suggestion faced opposition from Langkawi MP Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Abdullah, who voiced his disagreement both within and outside Parliament. He even announced that his coalition, Perikatan Nasional (PN), would establish a special committee to vigorously oppose the designation of Bak Kut Teh as a Malaysian heritage dish.

Despite the efforts of this purported special committee, Bak Kut Teh, along with nine other dishes, was recently officially designated as heritage food by the Malaysian Government.

Among the newly designated national heritage dishes are Burasak, Mi Kolok, Nasi Ambeng, Dodol Kukus Tahi Minyak, Kuih Lapis, Kuih Karas, Uthappam, Jeruk Tuhau, and Air Katira.

However, while the majority of Malaysians welcomed the recognition of Bak Kut Teh as a national heritage dish, some expressed reservations about its designation. Notably, Perak Assemblyperson for Gunung Semanggol, Razman Zakaria, questioned how Bak Kut Teh could be recognized as a national heritage dish when not everyone in Malaysia can consume it due to its pork content.

Razman, who also serves as the Perak State Legislative Assembly's (DUN) Opposition Leader, expressed his perplexity, stating, "Pork bone herbal broth was recently recognized as a Malaysian heritage food. It's very strange because Bak Kut Teh (its alternate name) can't be consumed by all segments of society. It is only accessible to some Malaysians."

He suggested that it would be more appropriate to designate national heritage status to dishes that cater to the majority of citizens in the country.

This statement prompted responses from Malaysians on social media platforms, with many criticizing Razman for his stance. Some argued that Malaysia's multicultural and multiracial society should embrace diversity in its culinary heritage. Others reminded Razman that over 200 food and beverage items have already been recognized as national heritage dishes, representing various cultural backgrounds.

Additionally, commentators highlighted that Razman's political party, PAS, had previously introduced a halal version of Bak Kut Teh to promote national unity, contrasting his current opposition to the dish's recognition.