Malaysia - the boiling pot of Asia, and that certainly is the case when it comes to food. In Malaysia, the famous saying is that its food comes first and everything else second.
And that, too, is so special because Malaysia's traditional food comprises Malay, Indian, Chinese, Melaka Portuguese, and East Malaysian cuisines from Ibans and Kadazans, and more, not to forget our very own delicacies of the Orang Asli.
And such diversity in food comes only from Malaysia, and that is a fact well documented in many, many books and studies.
Malaysian cuisine is a vibrant, multicultural melting pot that blends Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous Bornean influences. Centred around aromatic spices, coconut milk, and rich sauces, it offers an incredible variety of street food and traditional dishes suited to all times of day. And the taste is just unbeatable.
From nasi lemak to roti canai and dhall curry varieties to laksa Johor to Yee Sang and Hokkien mee to Sarawak noodles and Sabah kolo mee, Malaysia offers such a diversity that many countries cannot even come close.
Expected to be held in the heart of KL, the three organisations held an MOU signing ceremony in Bangi on Wednesday (June 3, 2026).
Karyawan president Datuk Freddie Fernandez said this event will also feature many Malaysian traditional wear that will be highlighted for the public.
"We also intend to showcase traditional dresses of all Malaysians for the public. There will be a merry time for Malaysians as it will also showcase our Malaysian singers during the event," said Freddie.
Khadijah also chipped in that: "There will be varieties of food that will be incredibly tasty and that are not often heard of, that will be waiting for foodies in KL during that event".
Meanwhile, Fakhruddin Afiq, the CEO of trendztok, the brain behind the event, said it was also a time for Malaysians to be reminded og Malaysia ricj traditional food.
"In my books, there is nothing compared to Malaysia when it comes to food. We have the best varieties, and Malaysians must always know and enjoy the tastes of our country," he said.
"These days, youngsters are going for too much foreign food. They love all kinds of European, East Asian and Middle Eastern food. From time to time, they must also know that our traditional food is just as good. Hence, the main reason we are having this event, and also at the same time, to ensure Malaysians enjoy and do not forget our traditional food is the very best.
"From nasi lemak to our rendang and kuih-muih dishes, the famous Malaysian Indian style banana leaf fest, and also Chinese food like Char Kway Teow, Yee Sang and many others, they are all ours, and it will remain that way forever. And we must always be proud of this fact."
"The event is also a way to ensure our traditional food always remains at the top of the list. Besides this, the festival will also have cooking classes, a cooking contest and many other interesting events for the public. It will be an unforgettable event for foodies and at the same time push it in style during the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign."
Fakhruddin added that the event has also received support from the Tourism Ministry, and they hope that it will be among the grandest events for the year.
"It is a three-day event, and we have an aim of having at least 200 promotional booths of food and traditional stuff, including dresses and handicrafts. With performers from Karyawan pushing the show even further, it will, indeed, be a fun-filled event.
To further add glamour to the event, the organisers will also be inviting food specialists from South-East Asia and Asia Pacific to showcase their traditional food at the event.
"We are also confident many foreigners, especially from this region, will be attending the event, and we hope people will definitely see the boiling pot of Asia at the event.
