Move Over, 'Monthong', Malaysia's 'Musang King' Is Here

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, June 4 (Bernama) -- The ‘king’ among Thai durians, ‘Monthong’, will soon face its new rival as Malaysia's very own ‘Musang King’ has been allowed for import and sale as whole fresh fruit in Thailand. As such, Malaysian Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry deputy secretary-general Mohd Sallehuddin Hassan said Thailand would become Malaysia's latest export country for the famous durian. “Those who have never tried ‘Musang King’ would say that ‘Monthong’ is the best (durian variety). However, they would find that the Thai durian lags in terms of taste after trying the ‘Musang King’,” he told Bernama here recently. He said this when attending the Durian Fiesta at the Malaysian Embassy here to mark the approval of acquisition for the ‘Musang King’ to penetrate the Thai market beginning this year. Prior to this, the durian variety was only permitted for export into Thailand in the form of pulp, frozen and chilled. According to Mohd Sallehuddin, the ministry believes the ‘Musang King’ has everything to attract durian connoisseurs in the neighbouring country due to its unique taste of sweet, creamy and bitter, as compared to the ‘Monthong’. He said representatives of Thailand’s fruit importers who were invited to the event, which was also attended by Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand, Jojie Samuel, had acknowledged the great potential of the ‘Musang King’ in the country. “A Thai fruit importer, who tasted the ‘Musang King’ for the first time, straight away said that it came as no surprise why Chinese nationals are really into the Malaysian durian variety. In fact, the importer immediately asked when he could import the ‘Musang King’,” said Mohd Sallehhuddin. He said the ministry would formulate strategies and have further discussions with Thailand’s companies importing fruits to ensure that the ‘Musang King’ would be able to win the hearts of durian lovers in the country. Meanwhile, Jojie regarded the approval of acquisition for fresh ‘Musang King’ into Thailand as a success in ‘fruit diplomacy’ between the two countries, in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of Malaysia-Thailand diplomatic relations last year. -- BERNAMA