THE ANNUAL DINNER OF PENANG CHEFS ASSOCIATION
SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ANNUAL DINNER OF PENANG CHEFS ASSOCIATION
6TH DECEMBER 2018
BOTANICA MANSION, BALIK PULAU
Chef Audee Cheah
President, Penang Chefs Association
Chef Lee Chan Wai
Organizing Chairman
Respective Chairmen & Representatives of Associations, Societies & Organisations
Distinguished guests
Members of media
Members of Chefs Association
Ladies & gentlemen
Good evening to all of you.
First and foremost, thank you to the Penang Chefs Association committee for inviting me to your 4th Annual Dinner Celebration which also commemorates the 31st Anniversary of the establishment of Penang Chefs Association at this grandeur of Botanica Mansion, Botanica CT, Balik Pulau, Penang.
On behalf of the Penang State Government, I am really proud to see that the Penang Chefs Association is "A Force To Be Reckon With", as your members are committed to the promotion of Culinary Talents and Promotion for our state of Penang as I have personally witness this at your recently concluded biennial 17th edition of the Battle of the Chefs (BOTC) in October.
I believe BOTC 2018 was a run-away success and as your Penang Chef's Signature Event, I was made to understand that PCA had garnered the support and participation of more than 1,500 entries with over 1,000 chefs participating from all over the Asia congregating in Penang.
I am also pleased to note that you also had the support of many international chef judges including Celebrity Chef Martin Yan. Penang "Battle of the Chefs" is well known worldwide especially within the circle and fraternity of the Global Chefs community, specifically with the endorsement of WACS (World Association of Chefs Societies), or WorldChefs.
I would like to take this opportunity to also congratulate UiTM Penang for winning back the converted Penang Governor’s Challenge Trophy which was previously won by Thailand over the last few years.
The event has also contributed tremendously into the promotion of our Penang Food as one of the important product attraction to all our guest and visitors to Penang - "Syabas" and Congratulations to Penang Chefs for your continuous role as Ambassadors championing the culinary scene of Penang.
I am also pleased with the success of our Penang Chefs including the juniors whom had brought glory to Penang and Malaysia. We met yesterday in my office during a press conference and I am impressed with the achievements which includes medals and overall placing in Singapore, Jakarta and as recently in NingBo, China. I must congratulate the team and respective individuals once more and the President and General Committee that had supported all of them throughout their training and competitions.
This PCA Annual Dinner seems to be a Strategic Gathering of people involved within the Chef fraternity and beyond, as in the gathering of not only the Chefs, but, also people within the value chain including associates, supporters and friends making this a camaraderie of gathering of the culinary community of Penang.
The Penang State Government acknowledge the effort and initiative taken by PCA towards the promotion, education and uplifting the quality and standards shown in the numerous activities and competitions that you have participated and won. Your contributions have been well noted by the state and we hope to be able to have a healthier engagement with Penang Chefs Association in 2019 to further promote and increase the level of collaboration between all relevant state agencies, hospitality communities, event organisers, Malaysia Association of Hotels Penang Chapter and Penang Chefs Association.
In closing, I would like to wish everyone a great year 2019 ahead, win more medals and accolades and make Penang the number 1 Culinary Destination of Malaysia and the Region.
Thank you.