KUCHING (July 21): The Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts is looking into gazetting more authentic Sarawakian delicacies and giving them their own intellectual property rights (IPs).

Its deputy minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan said although he was unable to reveal what the dishes to be gazetted are, he gave his assurance the ministry is still looking into it as the dishes need to be confirmed of their authenticity.

“We have lots of food in Sarawak — Laksa Sarawak, for example, became the signature food of Sarawak.

“Even the famous chef, the late Anthony Bourdain, said it is a ‘breakfast of the gods’, so we have to be proud for the IP is ours,” he told reporters after officiating the Sarawak Gastronomic Festival (Sago Fest) here today.

In his speech earlier, Snowdan said that in order for Sarawak to present itself to the world through culinary, the dishes presented must be the state’s signature dish.

As such, he said there was a need for some of the dishes to be gazetted.

“Sarawak has several of its own signature dishes so our ministry is looking into it,” he said.