KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 ― Celebrity chef Datuk Redzuawan Ismail, popularly known as Chef Wan, has washed his hands of a controversial attempt at the nation’s largest Sarawak laksa that ended up being binned.

According to the chef, he was originally only invited to join the launch of shopping mall Plaza Merdeka’s new food hall with Sarawak governor’s wife Puan Sri Ragad Waleed and perform a cooking demonstration, before he was asked to join the record-breaking event.

“Naturally I said yes. I was excited to know also how big is this bowl and the record that they must achieve to be in the Book of Records,” Redzuawan said in an Instagram post earlier today.

He also said that he was not aware that the laksa would not end up being served to the public.

Advertisement

“I didn’t cook the laksa, neither I am aware they are not feeding them to others until I was there that morning,” he said.

Chef Wan also explained that he has no control over the media’s portrayal of his involvement with the laksa, and felt it was unfair that he was targeted because of it.

 

Advertisement
 

Morning..betul kata orang tua2 tak di telan mati bapak jika di telan mati emak! Indeed very difficult for me to comment on this. However it did cross my mind on this issue yesterday. I will be lying not to say no kan. Lets be clear about this as i know so many have asked me about this on my instigram semlm. 1st thing i was invited Only to join the launch of Plaza Merdeka new food hall together with Toh Puan Ragab today at 11am and perform my cookery demo. Hari saya tiba ke Kuching 2 nites ago pihak Plaza Merdeka asked me "CW we are officiating this attempt to break the Malaysia book of Records to have made the biggest bowl of Sarawak Laksa record. Since this is part of our Plaza Merdeka celebration and CW is also here for the foodhall launch do u mind to join us esok? Naturally i said YES kan.I was excited to know also how big is this bowl and the record that they must achieve to be in the Book of Records. I didnt cook the Laksa neither i am aware they are not feeding them to others until i was there pagi tu. After the launch the Minister was swarmed by the press and was asked about the subsidi of cooking oil. I didnt hear what he said as i was swarmed by fans tak habis ambil gambar and abit bising dan kecoh suasana pun. Later some press asked me about this sugar subsidi apa pandangan saya? Saya rasa la saya tak kata apa kerajaan buat itu saya setuju! Tapi saya kata lets also look at the positive side that consumers can also look at other healthy avenue of preparing food at home. We can try to grill, baked and Roast or steam our food instead of habits of deep frying and stir frying which always uses more oil. Now correct me if i am wrong. As a professional Chef being asked such question is my answer not correct to suggest that alternative? Why some have blame me as though i totally agreed with the government decision? 1st thing i have no control if the government had to make that decision and for what reason. If the media wants to put big headline about minyak nak naik or Pembaziran Laksa Sarawak itu pun i have no control or say. So to some Stop putting the blame and asked me non stop all this questions Why this..why that...kutuk dan marah saya macam2 Out there?

A photo posted by chef wan (@chefwan58) on

 

The Borneo Post reported today that Plaza Merdeka in Kuching has planned to throw away the equivalent of 1,500 bowls of Sarawak laksa that was cooked for its successful bid yesterday to set a record for the Malaysia Book of Records.

Its organiser Debra Sim confirmed the contents of a huge bowl custom-made for the attempted “The Biggest Bowl of Laksa Sarawak” feat at Plaza Merdeka there yesterday would be binned for “being unhealthy”.

The move has since been criticised by many Malaysians on social media, who chided the move as wasteful.

According to the local daily, the bowl measuring 1.3 metres deep and 3.1 metres wide contains the Sarawak dish whipped up from various ingredients, including 100kg of Sarawak laksa paste, 225kg of rice noodles, 90kg of prawns, 1,008 eggs, 90kg of bean sprouts, and 80kg of chicken.

Preparation for the dish took 18 hours and involved 15 cooks, the report said.

Malaysia Book of Records deputy general manager Mohamad Alex Edward yesterday certified the successful record attempt.