SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW

FOR THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF PENANG INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL (PIFF) 2022

27 August 2022
Gurney Paragon

YB Yeoh Soon Hin

Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy

YB Chris Lee

ADUN Pulau Tikus

YB Daniel Gooi Zi Sen

ADUN Pengkalan Kota

Dato’ Ar. Yew Tung Seang

Mayor of Penang Island City Council

Mr Ooi Chok Yan

Chief Executive Officer of Penang Global Tourism

Mr Jack Wong

Managing Director of TLM Event

Mr Jonathan Freddy P. Bagang

Director of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, (MOTAC) Penang Office

Encik Azman Syah

Representative from Tourism Malaysia

Mr Tony Goh

Chairman of Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang Chapter

Board of Directors for Penang Global Tourism

Members of the Media

Ladies & Gentlemen

It’s my great pleasure to welcome all of you today for the closing ceremony of PIFF 2022. As a foodie myself, I have to say that this event is my personal favourite, and I’m very glad to be joining everyone here this evening.

When we talk about Penang, our food naturally comes to mind. Penang is well known for her very rich street food culture, which still plays an integral role in shaping our cultural identity.

Our food is regularly ranked amongst the best in the world, with Penang's assam laksa ranks No. 7 on CNN World's 50 Best Foods list and char koay teow and nasi kandar were honoured as among the Top 50 World Street Food Masters.

Penang’s food, coupled with our various attractions, has never failed to draw millions of tourists annually, especially since George Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 2008. After the negatively impact brought by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, Penang is now poised to revive our tourism sector.

Since the reopening of our borders in April this year, international direct flights had increased by 783 percentfrom 12 in January to 106 weekly flights in July. We have also recorded an increase of 3573 percent in international arrival, from 3,465 tourists in January to 127,287 of them in June. Furthermore, Penang’s cruise market is showing a promising recovery. Penang Port has served 13 international calls totalling nearly 35,000 passengers just in July this year.

That's why PIFF remains an important event in our state's annual calendar. First inaugurated in 2017, the Penang International Food Festival has been instrumental in promoting Penang to locals and visitors by showcasing our world-renowned foodscape, from hawker culture to cafe, restaurant and hotel food scene through the major events which come under the Festival such as the Street Food Festival (SFF) and Taste of Penang (TOP) as well as a host of other mini festivals. At the same time, the PIFF is constantly evolving to keep up with the times by leveraging the state's diverse landscapes and introducing new and attractive concepts.

This year, the Festival also supported the Penang State Government's 'Opposite Side of the Island – Seberang Perai' campaign by launching the opening weekend of PIFF 2022 in Batu Kawan. The Festival has also successfully aligned itself with the Penang Tourism Master Plan by bringing the Festival across the island and mainland and to unique settings like the SPICE Rooftop Garden, Tropical Spice Garden in Teluk Bahang, Gertak Sanggul and KOMTAR Walk.

It is very exciting to see the revival of tourism in Penang and its economic benefits through PIFF 2022. The opening weekend of PIFF 2022 had welcomed some 170,000 festival goers, a feat that surpassed all expectations. The food for sale during the opening weekend were all sold out, generating income for our local businesses and small vendors.

Having said that, while it's important to focus on the economy in this post-pandemic era, we must also focus on rebuilding our family and community. As a family-oriented state, Penang places great emphasis on family ties and our societal well-being as a whole.

In line with our Penang2030vision of a 'Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation', PIFF fosters a strong and closely-knit sense of unity and community across Penang. This, of course, is done through a shared space for everyone to bond over food. As shown in the PIFF video we just watched, people from all walks of life and ages got together to share their love for Penang's food over the past seven days. PIFF is also a firm supporter of the recently launched ‘LovePenang’ campaign. It is definitely rewarding that all of us can make full use today’s event as an opportunity to express our undivided love and pride for Penang and our food culture while spending quality time with those who matter most to us – our family and friends.

Taking place today and tomorrow, Taste of Penang (TOP) – which is the closing event for PIFF 2022 – is dedicated to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the state's promising modern food scene by gathering some of the best F&B operators – cafes, hotels and restaurants – from all over Penang to be centred in one location, offering foodies the opportunity to discover the sheer diversity of Penang's modern foodscape.

Some of the state's best food trucks have pulled up here too, to share various modern flavours and tantalise your taste buds. The modern food PIFF offers you today is just a small selection of some of the most popular modern food we have in Penang, but enough for you to discover our modern food scene. 

I don’t want to keep you from trying all the delicious food and beverages any longer. I sincerely hope you will have a memorable evening. In closing, thank you for having me today. I look forward to seeing you all enjoy the Festival and get curious to learn more about Penang's modern foodscape with your loved ones.

LovePenang & Love our food!

Thank you.

SPEECH BY YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW,

THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG

AT PENANG INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL 2023

- PRESS CONFERENCE

30^TH MAY 2023

THE WHITEAWAYS ARCADE, BEACH STREET

YB Yeoh Soon Hin

Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE)

YB Daniel Gooi Zi Sen

ADUN Pengkalan Kota

YBhg. Dato' Ir. Rajendran a/l P. Anthony

Datuk Bandar, Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP)

YBhg. Dato’Azhar bin Haji Arshad

Datuk Bandar, Majlis Bandaraya Seberang Perai (MBSP)

Mr Jonathan Freddy P. Bagang

Director of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC), Penang Office

Ms. Siti Hajar binti Mohd Yunus

Deputy Director of Tourism Malaysia Northern Malaysia

Mr. Ooi Chok Yan

Chief Executive Officer of Penang Global Tourism (PGT)

Board of Directors of Penang Global Tourism (PGT)

Fellow agencies & sponsors

Distinguished guests

Member of the media

Ladies and gentlemen

Good afternoon.

Welcome and thank you all for joining us today at this press conference, where we gather to discuss and unveil the highly anticipated Penang International Food Festival 2023, or fondly known as, PIFF 2023.

Penang, as we know, is a true gem in the realm of global travel destinations and has garnered widespread acclaim over the years. Accordingly, our thriving services sector, with tourism at its core, stands tall as a crucial pillar of our economy, contributing significantly with an impressive 47.4% to the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021.

Looking towards the future, Penang remains steadfast in capitalizing on the strengths of its services sector, alongside manufacturing and the digital economy, with a resolute aim of achieving an ambitious GDP growth rate of 5.4% by the year 2025.

In line with our commitment, the State Government will continue to position Penang as an exciting destination by showcasing and promoting our unique and diverse offerings through large-scale festivals like PIFF. As such, I am glad to announce that this year, from 3^rd to 25^th June, the festival will make a return to tantalize visitors with our multi-ethnic food heritage and a wide array of international cuisines available across the state.

Aligned with the Penang2030 and LovePENANG initiative, PIFF 2023 ensures that all main events and mini festivals embrace both areas of the island and Seberang Perai, to promote inclusivity while contributing to the local economy. For the very first time, the festival will expand its reach to new areas and settings, including Bertam and Penanti in Seberang Perai, as well as Farlim and Batu Maung on the island.

Hence, while savouring Penang's best-tasting offerings, I encourage all of you to also explore the nearby places of interest to maximise your time at the Festival. This includes attractions like the Masjid Abdullah Fahim, the British-Siamese Boundary Stone and the Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest. Additionally, there are other discoveries to be made, such as murals in Farlim, the War Museum and Snake Temple in Batu Maung, and the Penang International Container Art Festival’s container art in Batu Kawan. Be sure to allocate time for these great attractions.

Ladies and gentlemen,

To remain our competitive edge, it is crucial that we continue to reinvent and infuse creativity to the tourism sector by developing new products, experiences, or venues. Thus, alongside introducing new venues, I commend PIFF 2023 for embracing the spirit of the times by introducing all-new main events like Bertam Tasty Trails, Gourmet Stars of Penang, and Penang Food Festival, as well as, a slew of rebranded mini festivals, namely Wonderfood, Malam BBQ @ Penanti, Rasa²Rahmah, Santai Under The Sky, and Seafeast.

Moreover, I am delighted to announce that festival-goers will have the opportunity to win exciting lucky draw prizes through the PIFF Foodie Exploration Online Passport. This initiative aims to promote Michelin Guide-listed eateries as well as other delightful cafes and restaurants. To participate, simply scan the QR code displayed on the participating outlets' social media, websites, or posters, enter your details, and upload three receipts from different participating outlets. Winners will be announced during the PIFF finale event.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In our unwavering commitment to drive our economy forward, let us not forget that the true essence of our Penang2030 endeavour of 'A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’, lies in the unity, well-being, and happiness of our people.

Therefore, I implore each and every one of you to seize this remarkable opportunity to strengthen familial bonds, foster new friendships, and forge meaningful connections at the Festival. Together, let us stand as a unified family and proudly showcase our profound love and pride for Penang's extraordinary culinary heritage.

Before I conclude, allow me to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to our sponsors - AirAsia Ride, our official e-hailing partner; GrabFood, our official food delivery partner; Malaysia Association of Hotels (MAH), Pensonic, and Rapid Penang, the festival's official supporting partners; and TikTok Malaysia, our official media partner - for their unwavering support and generosity in achieving our shared vision.

Thank you, and let us make this Festival a great success.

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG

YAB CHOW KON YEOW

FOR THE PENANG INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL 2023’S FINALE

PENANG FOOD FESTIVAL

25 June 2023

SETIA SPICE ROOFTOP, BAYAN BARU

Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Dato' Seri Utama Ahmad Fuzi bin Haji Abdul Razak

Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang

Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan Dato’ Seri Utama Khadijah binti Mohd Nor

YB Yeoh Soon Hin

EXCO Pelancongan dan Ekonomi Kreatif

Yang Berhormat Ahli-ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri

YBhg. Konsul Jeneral, Konsul dan Konsul Kerhormat

Rakan-rakan Media

Tuan-tuan dan Puan-puan yang dihormati sekalian

Good evening to all of you.

Thank you for inviting me to the Penang International Food Festival 2023’s finale, the Penang Food Festival. I am excited to be back, and it is a pleasure to see many familiar faces again.

Penang is recognised as one of the most popular destinations in the world especially since our capital, George Town, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. The well-preserved historical architecture in the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, coupled with the sheer diversity of our multi-racial cuisine, the 8 World Wonders of Penang (which are World’s First Tropical Butterfly & Insect Sanctuary: Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm, ESCAPE Penang’s World Longest Water Slide & Zip Coaster, World’s Steepest Tunnel Track at Penang Hill, World’s Highest Altitude Stressed Ribbon Bridge at The Habitat Penang Hill, World’s First Free Standing Vertical Drop Slide at Tech Dome Penang, World’s Highest Ropes Course Challenge: The Gravityz and The World’s First Tower Curved Skywalk at The Top’s Rainbow Skywalk), the UNESCO-designated Penang Hill biosphere reserve, picturesque beaches, and breathtaking arts scene not only have attracted tourists but also put Penang on the radar of renowned international publications.

CNN Travel, for example, listed Penang as one of 17 Asia's best destinations to be considered for “the next adventure” back in 2019 and only last year in 2022, we gained the accolade for one of 22 best destinations to visit.

The services sector, which includes tourism, is one of the key pillars of our economy, contributing 47.4 percent of the state’ gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021, finally standing equal to the manufacturing sector.

Looking ahead, Penang will continue to build on the strength of our services sector, along with manufacturing and the digital economy, to achieve a GDP growth of 5.4 percent by 2025.

I am confident that we can meet this goal because Penang has made significant progress in our five-year plan since the launch of the Penang2030 Vision. I am proud to say, we have successfully implemented 47 percent of the out of the total 210 projects and programmes.

Tuan Yang Terutama Tun, Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we strive to remain a destination of choice for local and international travellers, the Penang State Government will continue to ensure the comfort of our guests with new or improved infrastructure and attractions across Penang Island.

New hotels such as the Ascott Gurney, Citadines Connect Georgetown, Amari SPICE Penang, and The George Hotel are now open on Penang Island to provide quality accommodation to our growing number of travellers.

In line with the Penang2030 Vision, the State Government is also focusing on a balanced development on the island and Seberang Perai. Thus, development projects are gradually emerging in the Seberang Perai area.

The recently launched Citadines Prai Penang and Bertam Resort are now ready to accommodate more foreign and Malaysian visitors who are keen to explore the mainland.

Other exciting developments in the works to enhance our visitors' experiences in Penang include the Penang International Airport (PIA) expansion project which is expected to cater up to 20 million passengers annually, and also the construction of phase one of Penang's first light rail transit (LRT) project which is expected to begin at the end of this year.  

Tuan Yang Terutama Tun, Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan, Ladies and Gentlemen,

This evening, we are gathered here at the Setia SPICE in Bayan Lepas not only to celebrate the breadth of our culinary and cultural diversity at PIFF 2023, but also to shine a spotlight on Bayan Lepas. Since its inaugural edition in 2017, PIFF has played an important role in promoting Penang as a destination of choice for tourists who want to experience Penang through food.

Looking at the selection of food on offer, the visitors from all walks of life, I am very happy to say that Penang is on track to become a “Family-Focused, Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation”, and I must commend everyone at PIFF 2023 for your tremendous contribution towards the Penang2030 Vision.

Most important of all, the Vision emphasizes family values and the family unit as the core of our everyday life and existence. Most, if not all, of us spend many hours away from our families, working to earn a living.

Festivals such as PIFF 2023 offer a common space for families to sit together and enjoy a hearty meal in the presence of other fellow Penangites as well as local or foreign tourists, which further fosters a sense of community well-being.

And because Penangites take so much pride in our culinary culture, I am very pleased to see so many of us here who show our love for Penang food, celebrating our shared heritage and appreciating the unique flavours and dishes that represent our vibrant multi-ethnic community, in line with the LovePenang state slogan.

To everyone, thank you for showing up this evening with your family and friends, standing united for the values we hold dear, for the vision of progress we share, and for the state we all love.

That’s all from me, thank you.