In Singapore, rice is a major part of local diet despite the nation’s melting point of racial and religious diversity.
“We love our rice. Nasi lemak. Chicken rice. Nasi biryani. The list goes on. But my favourite in recent years has been the traditional nasi ulam (literally rice and herbs),” wrote President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in his Facebook post on Hari Raya Puasa (March 21).
Known for his witty analogies, President Tharman was not launching into a review of his favourite food.
Instead, he was using the “mix of tastes” used to prepare the dish to flesh out Singapore’s multiculturalism.
“There is simply nothing like it for freshness and a tantalising mix of tastes — coming from very finely-cut raw herbs, vegetables and edible flowers, all mixed patiently into rice, so that every mouthful gives you a burst of different tastes and textures,” he explained.
The tens of different raw herbs, vegetables and flowers, mixed into the rice — to create nasi ulam — is similar to Singapore’s multicultural heritage, enjoyed by people of different background, said President Tharman.
“Selamat Hari Raya Puasa to all our Muslim friends, and to all those who treasure the togetherness we live for in Singapore,” he wrote.
The president’s words on Hari Raya is a sombre reminder of events around the world.
On Friday, Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was heckled and booed by protesters during a visit to the country’s largest mosque for Eid al-Fitr prayers.
They voiced their anger over the prime minister’s stance on ally Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
