Safeguarding Traditional Food Culture Amongst Bugis in Klang, Selangor

Abstract

The Bugis community existed in Malaysia for a long time ago, and their immigration from Indonesia has carried their customs, culture, heritage, including foods. Due to assimilation and adaptation of the immigrant and existing cultures, some traditional foods have been modified to suit contemporary society. The evolution of popular culture has resulted in a change in lifestyle and food consumption. As a result, many young generations in contemporary society have little appreciation for and exposure to their traditional foods. Therefore, this article focuses on identifying the impact of cultural change in the making and preparing burasak, a traditional Bugis food from contemporary and traditional perspectives and examining relevant mechanisms in safeguarding and sustaining burasak amongst the Bugis in Klang Selangor. This study also employed a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth interviews with the seven respondents and observing the preparation of burasak. The study's findings have been organised into two overarching themes: i., cultural changes in burasak preparation (technological tools and ingredients) and ii. safeguarding mechanisms through commercialising burasak as a food commodity, intergenerational knowledge transmission Bugis Heritage Fiesta and gazetting burasak as part of national heritage.