The sacrifices of cooks are appreciated at the National Day celebrations
KUALA LUMPUR: Behind the participants of today’s National Day 2022 celebration parade, who are wearing t-shirts and various security force uniforms, there is a contingent of cooks in white shirts, black pants complete with high hats or toques who are also marching along with the line of national heroes.
For the first time to be seen participating in such an event, it may trigger the question of a few spectators at Dataran Merdeka why the contingent of heroes was not sung involving more than 40 chefs or cooks from the Malaysian Cooks Association who also performed a salute.
In fact, their dexterity ‘fighting’ in the kitchen with ‘arming’ chopsticks and ladles is one of the groups that played an important role as providers of ready meals in hospitals when the capacity of hospital wards was filled with COVID-19 patients when the epidemic began to ‘attack’ the country in early 2020.
While passing in front of the Royal Stage, the contingent of chefs also attracted the attention of the King Queen Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah who was standing cheerfully while waving to this contingent.
Looking back at that dark moment, the president of the association, Khairuddin Kamarudin, said that his party agreed without hesitation to help provide food in several hospitals that at that time needed their services following the fact that most of the existing food providers were unable to work due to the epidemic.
“Many are worried and ask ‘aren’t you afraid of contracting COVID-19?’, but we are confident and take it as a challenge and responsibility to help and contribute to the community.
“Furthermore, many of the chefs in the hotel cannot continue their service at the hotel which was closed at that time, we do not want to just cuddle at home,” he said.
Khairuddin said ensuring that food is nutritious and prepared according to the different dietary needs of patients is one of the challenges in preparing food during that period.
“We are always vigilant and meticulous in maintaining standard operating procedures (SOP) to avoid being infected with COVID-19 because we fear that cooking operations involving the team will be affected,” he said.
Excited and proud to be able to participate in the event on the country’s historic day as a team of cooks, Khairuddin described the opportunity as like the moon falling into his lap.
“Alhamdulillah, we have actually been applying for this opportunity for five years, finally this year we were given sustenance, of course it is a very meaningful award for our career,” he said.
He said the parties responsible for delivering food to patients also have to go through various complicated processes such as being sanitized as best as possible before entering the kitchen.
Speaking further, he, who has 28 years of experience in the industry, said that the career also demanded various sacrifices, including working hours reaching 18 hours a day in addition to having to forget time with family in order to ensure the best food preparation.
“So don’t ever look down on the job of a chef because not everyone is capable of doing it because it requires very high mental and physical endurance,” he said.
Khairuddin said his party also often goes to the field to help provide food for victims of natural disasters including floods in the country as well as earthquakes in Palu, Indonesia.
He said Malaysian cooks have also made the country famous by winning cooking competitions at the international level including WorldSkillsAbu Dhabi and the Luxembourg Culinary World Cup and the Asean Skill Competition in Bangkok, which at once introduced the country’s traditional food products to the world.
source – BERNAMA