Johor’s star dish: (From left) Nurin Nadhrah Abdul Razak, Nabillah Umairah Abu Bakar, Avyanna Roxen Junita and Iryndeana Alysha Abdullah showing the nasi briyani Johor. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: Efforts are under way to put nasi briyani Johor and traditional dance, zapin, on the list of intangible heritage under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).Yayasan Warisan Johor director Sharil Nizam Abdul Rahim said he is confident that nasi briyani Johor and zapin are capable of meeting Unesco’s set criteria.
However, he added that efforts to put both items on the list necessitate undergoing various processes and stages which include making presentations and obtaining expert help.
“The process towards the effort to gazette it will also take maybe four to five years,” he said at a press conference after unveiling nasi briyani Johor as the state’s heritage food at Kompleks Warisan Sultan Abu Bakar here yesterday. Sharil Nizam also said nasi briyani Johor has variations such as normal briyani and briyani gam.
“Nasi briyani Johor must be served with telur pindang and garam berlada. This can only be found in Johor and nowhere else,” he said, adding that telur pindang comprises eggs boiled with herbs and spices.
Meanwhile, zapin is performed in every district on various occasions, with the dance and musical accompaniment being a popular form of traditional Malay performing arts. Its movements are choreographed to melodies performed on instruments such as the gambus, accordion and rebana.
It is believed to have been introduced by Persian and Arab traders to the Malay archipelago in the 14th century.
Previously, zapin was performed exclusively during religious ceremonies, but through the years, it has become a form of entertainment and is performed on general occasions.
Zapin is said to have 118 versions and remains an integral part of the regional Malay performing arts scene in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and parts of Indonesia.
Sharil Nizam said nasi briyani Johor has officially joined other well-known Johor delicacies that have been gazetted as Johor heritage foods after going through a phase of study and research in several districts. He said some nine nasi briyani cooks from Batu Pahat, Johor Baru and Muar were called for a three-day workshop to reach a consensus on how to make nasi briyani Johor.
Besides nasi briyani Johor, other delicacies that have been gazetted as Johor heritage foods include otak-otak, laksa Johor, telur pindang, kueh lopes and mee rebus.He added that there are other delicacies that they are looking at to be listed as heritage foods in the near future, such as mee bandung, sirap bandung, Muar satay, sambal belangkas and pepes.
