JOHOR BAHRU: There will be no shortage of asam pedas in Muar on election day, well at least not in Tanjung Emas, Muar.
Asam pedas, a red spicy gravy that can be eaten with almost everything - rice, paratha, bread, you name it - is a must-have specialty dish for the people in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia.
This is no exception to the people of Muar, a town on the west coast. People from all over the country come to Muar to, of course, eat Mee Bandung, but asam pedas is the other gastronomical pull here.
If you ask the locals where’s the best asam pedas, they most probably will point you to their own kitchen since everyone in this town eats asam pedas on a daily basis - a must have “lauk”.
For those who plan to make a detour and stop for Tanjung Emas’ asam pedas, why not head to Majlis Penbandaran Muar’s stall near Dataran Tanjung Emas to satisfy your cravings.
Mohd Naim Omar, 32, who helps run his uncle’s stall here said the business has been around since the facility was built some time in 2002 but has been in the family longer as they also own asam pedas JJ on Jalan Junid.
There are a few types of asam pedas you can choose from here, based on the catch of the day and it’s cooked fresh daily.
Open from 10am, but make your way here before 8pm closing time if you don’t want to miss tasting the highlights of the day, asam pedas telur (fish roe). Do bear in mind that the asam pedas will only be available from noon onwards.
Naim said business will be as usual on polling day on May 9.
Just like other operators, Naim also anticipates a larger crowd on election day especially for lunch.
“Business is as usual. We’ll vote first but asam pedas will be ready for lunch time,” confirmed Naim who will be lining up to do his responsibility as a registered voter and vote in the Maharani state seat which will see Norhayati Bachok of PKR fight against incumbent Mohammad Taslim from PAS and Barisan Nasional’s Ashari Md Sarip.
“Judging by the past election,we will have a big crowd coming especially those who come back to vote and also others who come with their family to try our asam pedas.”
Latiff Mahat, 67, who sells otak-otak here to support his two sons after his wife’s passing almost 10 years ago from cancer, said he is always the first five in line to cast his vote as he usually sends his wife after that to vote in another area.
Born and bred in Maharani, Latiff also known as Pak Atip among the operators here, has high hopes that the crowd will increase during voting time next week.
“It is quite slow today but the last labour day on May 1, there were many who came from out of town and I think more can be expected as some will come back to vote and some will take the opportunity to stay longer.”
Sharing with NST, Pak Atip said in the past two terms, the incumbent, Datuk Seri Razali Ibrahim had a habit of going around asking people about their day, something he appreciates from the man chosen to represent the people of the area.
Pak Atip hopes that the young ones who come to vote will think about the community before voting.
“I’ve been here my whole life. The young don’t know how much we’ve gained these years. No one is perfect, of course there are things that could be better but we cannot just change because we don’t get everything we want.
“Those from out of town need to remember that we are the people of Maharani, who live here and work here. Don’t choose someone you like and leave us with people who are not going to serve the locals,” added Pak Atip, when asked about his view on out of towners who come back to vote.
Pak Atip said currently, it looks like there are more supporters for the opposition based on the turnout during speeches but when it comes to voting people may vote for anyone.
Pak Atip is among the 50,843 voters who will be voting in the Muar parliamentary seat where incumbent Datuk Seri Razali Ibrahim will be in a three-way fight against PKR’s Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman and Abdul Aziz Talib of PAS.