Malaysia’s New Uyghur Restaurant Serves Up Food And Awareness
Uyghur Saray Restaurant brings authentic hand-pulled noodles and aromatic rice dishes to Malaysian diners while quietly highlighting the plight of the Uyghur community in China’s Xinjiang region, also known as East Turkestan.
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A taste of authentic Central Asian cuisine arrives in Kuala Lumpur this Saturday (7 December) with the opening of Uyghur Saray Restaurant.
The establishment aims to not only introduce Malaysian diners to traditional Uyghur flavors but also highlight the rich cultural heritage and ongoing challenges faced by the Uyghur community.
The restaurant’s signature dishes include freshly prepared hand-pulled noodles served with various meat options and Polo, an aromatic rice dish featuring tender lamb or chicken with sweet carrots and distinctive Uyghur spices.
“This restaurant represents more than just food – it’s a form of cultural and food diplomacy,” said Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin, president of the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM), speaking to TRP.
Uyghur Saray Restaurant, located in Jalan Pahang, was established by entrepreneurs who embraced ABIM’s suggestion to showcase Uyghur cuisine while supporting cultural awareness through this business venture.
This Uyghur Joint Is More Than Just Killer Noodles
While diners can enjoy authentic Uyghur cuisine, this opens up conversations about the predominantly Muslim Uyghur community’s rich heritage and current situation in Xinjiang, China.
Food has always been a powerful medium for cultural understanding, Fahmi noted.
Through these traditional dishes, we hope Malaysians can better appreciate Uyghur culture while becoming more aware of the challenges the Uyghur community faces globally.
The restaurant will join a growing number of establishments in Malaysia offering Central Asian cuisine, reflecting the country’s increasing cultural diversity in its food scene.
Meanwhile, the Allied Coordinating Council of Islamic NGOs (ACCIN) dropped their congrats on the opening.
ACCIN CEO Jamal Mohamed Shamsudin said the name has some royal vibes—’saray’ actually means ‘palace’ in the Uyghur language.
The Diplomatic Dance
Behind the scenes, Uyghur leaders have been making their presence felt in Malaysia, even as human rights organizations continue to report systematic repression of the Uyghur minority – claims which China has consistently denied.
Led by representatives from the United States and Turkiye, they’ve been busy networking at the highest levels.
Among them is a Turkish-based ngo, the International Union of East Turkistan Organizations (IUETO)—from parliamentary meetings with MPs to strategic discussions with Wisma Putra advisors and even scoring face-time with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
But here’s the tea – Malaysia’s been playing it cool, carefully sidestepping official comments on the Uyghur situation, likely to keep things smooth with Beijing.
It’s the elephant in the room that nobody wants to address: will Malaysia prioritize human rights advocacy over its economic relationship with China?
So far, the scales seem to tip toward protecting trade ties, leaving many wondering if money really does have the final say.
Yet, Malaysia’s diplomatic finesse in maintaining both international relationships and domestic interests showcases the complexities of modern statecraft.
How shameful of @anwaribrahim, the PM of Malaysia, to deny the genuine against Uyghurs when his countrymen and women protested against the genocide. https://t.co/wFabBJnOae
— Rayhan E. Asat (@RayhanAsat) October 5, 2024
READ MORE: The Escape To Freedom: How Malaysia Became Uyghur Refugees’ Lifeline
READ MORE: NGO Launches Free Book To Spotlight Uyghur Human Rights Crisis
READ MORE: Have You Ever Seen Uyghur Bazaar Naan? It’s So Fluffy And Delicious
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