Arya News - Currently, Malaysia does not have an officially recognised "national fruit."
KUALA LUMPUR – The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is proposing a nationwide survey by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) to gather public view on the choice for national fruit.
This will provide the government with a reference basis before deciding which fruit to take the title, says Chan Foong Hin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food.
Currently, Malaysia does not have an officially recognised “national fruit.”
Replying to a question raised by Vincent Wu on the option of national fruit in Dewan Negara on Tuesday, Chan said the ministry has so far received two applications: one from the Durian Manufacturer Association nominating the durian, and another from the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board nominating the pineapple.
“The government will not directly select one over the other, as all fruit industries must be treated fairly. Therefore, we propose conducting a survey so that the people can vote for their preferred national fruit,” he said.
He explained that the survey aims to comprehensively understand the people’s choices and analyse the factors influencing their preferences—including national identity, cultural value, popularity, and economic value.
He gave an example that India chose the mango as its national fruit, while Bangladesh selected the jackfruit.
When asked by Sin Chew Daily when the nationwide survey would commence, Chan later clarified that the Agriculture Ministry is leaving the exploratory work to the Department of Statistics, and that the initiative remains at a very preliminary stage.