Unity not a thorny issue with durian
KUALA LUMPUR: My friend and I were sipping hot ‘teh o’ one evening at a stall in Wangsa Maju here when suddenly, in between taking mouthfuls of crunchy ‘goreng pisang’, we spied a poster plastered on a nearby tree advertising a durian fest.
‘Just pay RM50 and eat all you want till you faint’, screamed the poster. No true-blue durian lover, including my pal Adila Abdul, 33, would want to miss such an irresistible offer.
Adila is so smitten with the king of fruits that she cannot possibly go past any durian seller without stopping by to buy a fruit or two, her favourite being the kampung varieties that can be found in abundance at roadside stalls.
Adila, a civil servant, observed that the durian eating trend has evolved over the years. During the 1990s, she recalled, one could only enjoy the thorny delight at home or in the orchard back in the kampung owned by the family, relatives or friends. Due to its rather potent aroma which many people find unpleasant, the fruit was a definite no-no in enclosed areas like offices and hotels.
However, of late the corporate sector has appeared to be more receptive to the durian eating culture with companies and even five-star hotels organising durian fests at their premises.
Adila is a staunch fan of durian fests.
“It is a chance for durian enthusiasts like me to indulge in our favourite fruit. Well, you just have to pay a certain amount and can eat as much as you want.
“It’s much more economical than buying from the roadside stall or market where we have to pay up to RM70 for just two fruits and we’re not even sure if their contents are good.”
Durian fests, she stressed, provide the public with an opportunity to enjoy the more expensive varieties like Musang King, Udang Merah and IOI, as well as the different types of hybrid durian. The price of Musang King, for instance, can be anything from RM45 to up to RM90 per kilogramme (depending on the grade).
Adila also pointed to Malaysia’s first-ever durian-based agrotourism centre, developed by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and located in Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
Dubbed Duriotourism Kuala Kangsar, it is a haven for durian devotees who can indulge in various types of durians, including hybrid varieties developed by MARDI researchers, for just RM50.
Adila finds the ‘eat all you can’ offer truly worthwhile, more so when the price also includes savouring other durian-based delicacies like ice-cream and serawa durian – a dessert made of durian pulp, coconut milk and gula Melaka – as well as other local fruits such as rambutan and mangosteen.
The durian – long regarded as a kampung fruit without any real value due to its overwhelming odour – has in recent times been given a fillip in terms of its image, largely due to the entry of highquality hybrids that are sold at outrageous prices.
Take, for instance, the Black Thorn durian. It is sold at about RM110 a kilogramme in the domestic market while in the international market, the price escalates to RM300 per kg. It looks like the more exclusive durian varieties are only within the reach of those with deep pockets!
Price aside, I have observed that all these durian fests or buffets not only provide durian lovers with a chance to satiate their appetite but also serve as an avenue for racial integration because, in Malaysia, the love for the thorny fruit transcends race and religion.
With people of various races gathered under one roof to indulge in durian, these fests are, in fact, the perfect platform to rekindle the spirit of unity.
I have visited durian fests several times and I have found the atmosphere there lively and convivial with people happily interacting with each other regardless of race, religion, culture and even political affiliation.
At my workplace, the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), the staff club organises a ‘pesta durian’ practically every year and it is just RM10 per person.
Yes, it is just RM10 and durian fans can get their fill of their favourite fruit. But more than that, the fest draws staff from the various departments and fosters camaraderie. It is also the time to meet new friends and strengthen existing friendships.
Interestingly, durian fests are not only attracting locals but also tourists who have acquired a liking for the rich and creamy pulp and enjoy eating it in the company of like-minded people.
And, I am sure that when they return to their homeland, they would talk to their family and friends about our durian fests and how they promote harmony among the multiracial population.
The durian is unique as it not only tastes delicious but, more importantly, also has the ability to bring the rakyat together. Indeed, the term ‘king of fruits’ is an apt description for the durian.
The durian season has not ended yet and since our National Day celebrations are just around the corner, what better way to forge unity than by organising and participating in durian fests. (The views expressed in this commentary are the writer’s own.)