Rich tropical and agricultural resources combined with the diverse cultures in Malaysian society — Malay, Chinese and Indian, have resulted in a fascinating range of processed food with an Asian twist. These exotic foods include marine foods, processed horticultural produce, cocoa products, spices, processed meat and poultry, and convenience and frozen foods. Notably, Malaysia is the world’s leading exporter of pepper. Malaysia also ranks as the world’s 3rd largest producer of cocoa and one of the largest exporters of pineapples.

Marine Products
Some of Malaysia’s main exports of marine products include frozen prawns, canned fish, roasted eel and surimi.

Horticultural Produce
The country is one of the world’s largest exporters of pineapples. Malaysian pineapples in canned or juice form are consumed all over the globe. Other exotic tropical fruits such as jackfruit, starfruit or carambola, guava, roselle and papaya are canned in syrup or brine, pickled in vinegar or dehydrated. Fruits such as pink guava, passion fruit, rambutan and soursop are also canned or processed into juices, concentrates, puree and jam.

Cocoa
As the world’s 3rd largest cocoa producer, Malaysia is a major exporter of processed cocoa products. The high quality of Malaysian cocoa products such as cocoa butter, cocoa paste/liquor, cocoa cake and cocoa powder, have made them popular ingredients in confectionery and chocolate production overseas. Malaysia also has a strong base of manufacturers producing chocolates and other chocolate products such as cooking chocolate, chocolate rice and chocolate chips. Vochelle chocolate is one example of a home-grown brand which is exported.

Spices
Malaysia is the world’s largest exporter of pepper under the trade name Sarawak Pepper. Sarawak Pepper is consumed in more than 40 countries worldwide, such as Singapore, Western Europe and Japan, and the emerging markets in Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, West Asia, Far East, North America and the Pacific Rim. Value-added pepper and pepper products include speciality pepper, processed pepper and pepper-based products and pepper in special packaging. Other new products include extra-bold pepper, creamy white pepper, extra-clean pepper, green pepper sauce, green pepper pickles, pepper perfume, pepper sweets and pepper biscuits. Spices such as clove, coriander, turmeric, fennel, lemon grass, anise, cumin and cinnamon are packaged and exported under brand names like Sakthy’s and Adabi.

Convenience Foods
Advanced packaging techniques and sophisticated methods of preserving fresh foods have enabled Malaysian-prepared foods to penetrate overseas markets. Examples of local brands that have successfully capitalized on retort pouch packaging include Brahim’s, a range of Asian convenience foods and sauces which retails in major markets overseas such as the USA and the EU. Freezing and food preservation techniques are key in producing frozen convenience foods including Asian-style breads such as ‘roti canai’ and steamed buns under local brands such as Oriental Fortune.

Poultry and Red Meat Products
Frozen poultry and red meat products such as burgers, frankfurters and nuggets are sold under brand names such as Ayamas and Ramly Burger. Deli meats such as pastrami, salami, roast beef, smoked turkey breast, pepperoni, and veal sausage are marketed under brands like Prima.

Development
Intensive R&D and product development guarantee that Malaysia continually finds inventive uses for its food resources and introduces fresh products into export markets. Health and well-being are major trends in developing new food products. These include:

• Developing low-cholesterol cooking oil using red palm olein
• Substituting palm-based coconut milk powder as a low-cholesterol substitute for traditional coconut milk.
• Substituting cholesterol-free palm oil for other fats in transfer soft margarine, herbal or Tongkat Ali chocolate, and goat’s milk ice cream.
• Using local herbs such as Eurycoma Longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali), Centella asiatica (pegaga), Ocimum sanctum (selasih) and Orthosiphon aristatus (misai kucing) in natural food supplements to improve health and wellbeing.
• Developing ‘gamat’ or sea cucumber harvested from Malaysian seas into potent food supplements, whether in capsule, jelly or liquid form.

The emphasis is also on finding ways to extend the shelf life of raw and processed foods. Areas being looked at include creating new packaging and handling techniques for live tiger prawns and new fruit strains that can be kept longer.

Standards

• HACCP, which provides full assurance on the premium quality of Malaysian food products.
• GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)
• SOPs (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures)
• Malaysian food products which are certified “halal”
• Malaysian marine products also meet CE or EU standards for frozen seafood
• Malaysian manufacturers are moving towards the adoption of ISO 9000 and QAP (Quality Assurance Programmes.)
  

‘Halal’ Hub
As a pioneer in promoting “halal” food globally, Malaysia’s locally developed “halal” certification serves as an example for other nations and has been commended by the United Nations as a model system. Where meat products are concerned, the “halal” certification is awarded when the producer has strictly followed procedures for slaughtering, processing and other related operations as prescribed by Islam. For other food products, the “halal” designation means that all ingredients used in manufacturing the products are approved Islamically. Raw materials used as feed-stocks and as intermediate goods to manufacture value-added products are inspected to ensure “halal” standards are met.

The “halal” certificate is not just a religious requirement. In order to gain “Halal” certification, manufacturers must adhere to strict cleanliness and quality controls. Currently, “halal” products certified in Malaysia run the gamut from processed chicken and beef products to ice cream, chocolate and food supplements.

Contacts

Malaysian Agricultural Research & Development Institute (MARDI)
Tel : 603-8943 7111
Fax : 603-8948 3664
Website : www.mardi.my

Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA)
Tel: 603-6138 9622
Fax: 603-6138 3650 / 5200
E-mail:fama@pop.moa.my

Malaysian Cocoa Board
Tel: 6088-252 572
Fax: 6088-239575 / 253037
E-mail:webmaster@koko.gov.my
Website : www.koko.gov.my

Malaysian Pepper Marketing Board
Tel: 6082-331811
Fax: 6082-336877

Department of Veterinary Services
Tel : 603-2094 0077
Fax : 603-2094 0092
Website : agrolink.moa.my/jph/

Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB)
Tel: 607-236 1211 / 236 1012
Fax: 607-236 5694
E-mail: mpib@tm.net.my
Website : www.mpib.gov.my