At Taman Tasik Cempaka Nurhanis Selamat (far left), MPKJ councillor Kwan Say Hong (third from left), Nor Zulaila (fourth from left), Syahredzan (fourth from right) and Khoo (third from right). — Photo AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
IF you love laksa and satay, get down to Bandar Baru Bangi for a picnic at a festival in conjunction with Malaysia Day today.
“Picnic Laksate Bangi” will feature 38 vendors serving a variety of laksa and satay dishes, alongside coffee stalls and other street food sellers.
The festival will take place at Taman Tasik Cempaka in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, from 2pm to 6pm. Entry is free.
Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan said the event, initiated by Bangi parliamentary office, aimed to celebrate the various types of laksa and satay in Malaysia.
“Bangi is a great mix of people from all across Malaysia, so you can actually find all sorts of food from many states like Johor, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak.
“With that spirit, we think it is apt to have this festival on Malaysia Day to show people that we have a rich heritage displayed in Bangi,” he said at a press conference in Taman Tasik Cempaka.
“Picnic Laksate Bangi” programme leader Nurhanis Selamat said there would be at least 10 varieties of laksa on offer, including Sarawak, Ipoh and Johor laksa, and 10 satay vendors serving Kajang and Minang satay, among others.
She added that the festival expected to welcome about 1,000 visitors but hoped to see even more as the green space could accommodate some 5,000 people.
The first 450 visitors would receive coupons worth up to RM10 for use at any of the food stalls, said Syahredzan.
Bangi MP’s special officer Nor Zulaila Abd Ghani said the vendors would be selling satay and laksa portions at RM5 each, redeemable with coupons.
“For RM5 you can get a portion of three satay skewers with ketupat and peanut sauce, or a small bowl of laksa.
“Vendors can sell a larger portion for a higher price if they wish, but we asked them to also provide these smaller portions.”
There would be other activities like photo booth, buskers and games, said Syahredzan. “The event is based on a picnic concept where people can buy food and then sit around the park in their camping chairs or picnic mats, and just relax.
“We hope to bring lots of people from both in and outside of Bangi to celebrate Malaysia Day together while enjoying laksa and satay.”
Kajang Municipal Council councillor Khoo Khim Han said Selangor Malay Customs and Heritage Corporation would soon recognise Kajang satay as one of the state’s heritage foods.
“Hence, it is important we promote Kajang satay not only to the Bangi area, but to other areas as well,” he said.
