00:00If I go back to the village, if I want to do something to attract my cousin,
00:05easy to make them cry. Just cook this chili and salt.
00:10They eat, they cry. So why are you crying?
00:14Oh, does you remember grandmother food? Oh, so delicious!
00:19Can you imagine a Malaysian meal without chili?
00:23This powerful spice is king in the kitchen across the nation,
00:27weaving itself into the daily lives of our diverse communities
00:31as a cherished culinary threat.
00:33As a foreigner who has fallen for its heat,
00:36I've found that chili not only draws me closer to Malaysia,
00:40it's a spicy bite that brings everyone together.
00:43Chili brings us together as part of our culture in Malaysia.
00:47For example, nasi lemak lah. Everybody eat nasi lemak.
00:51When you go to the stall or you buy by the roadside nasi lemak,
00:56first thing eh, it doesn't matter lah where they come from,
00:59they say,
01:00Pakcik, lebih sambal?
01:02No chili is not Malaysian.
01:05It's appetizer. Open up happiness.
01:09Relationship. Generosity.
01:13You know, culture. Lots of love. Lots of flavor and colors.
01:20So, to be happy, be like chili.
01:25This sentiment is echoed in kitchens across the country.
01:30Where the love for spice transcends ancestral origins.
01:34Whether it is a side of sambal or sliced chilies in soy sauce,
01:38it acts as a cultural bridge that turns a table of strangers into a circle of friends.
01:44We grew up hating chilies as kids, but I guess as you get into the teen years,
01:49you get to start to like a lot of chilies and you like that burn that it gives you.
01:54It's embedded in our DNA.
01:56Any Malaysian, whether you're Malay, Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Lion, Lion,
02:00we love our chilies and you know, so I think everyone brought their cultures over here
02:05and they integrated the chilies into it.
02:07This culinary integration is evident in the Malaysian-Chinese community.
02:13While traditional cuisine from China is not typically known for the heavy use of chili,
02:19Malaysian-Chinese food has evolved differently.
02:23We Chinese originally don't like spicy food,
02:27but as we explore other cultures, dishes and all that,
02:34we tend to pick up some elements.
02:39Chili as a spice has gone back for many generations ever since olden days and all that.
02:46So it has come a very long way and it has shaped us as Malaysians up to the present time.
02:55So I would say chili really gives us our identity.
03:02While Malaysians may be accustomed to its heat,
03:06as a foreigner, I view chili's significance through a fresh lens.
03:10In many ways, it is the glue that connects Malaysians,
03:14not just to their food, but to one another,
03:17and helps carry their national identity to the rest of the world.
03:22Malaysians' love for chili makes us put aside all our race, religion and political differences
03:28that come together and just eat.
03:30Food is the bridge that connects people together.
03:33We may come from different backgrounds,
03:36but the food culture here with chili right at its heart unifies everyone.
03:41It's more than just a kick of flavor.
03:43It sparks lively banners, shared laughter, and a real sense of connection.
03:49In the spirit of Malaysia's colorful diversity,
03:53may this fiery love for chili never dim,
03:56but continue to spread its warmth nationwide.
03:59Claire Chen, FMT.
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