Malaysia – We invented the Singapore Sling

Malaysia has outraged Singaporeans (yet again) with claims that the iconic drink the Singapore Sling was in fact a Malaysian invention.

Originally made from Palm oil, rice vinegar and “the blood of a Chinese,”  Malaysians claim that the Malacca Sling recipe  was stolen by Raffles bartender Ngiam Tong Boon 嚴崇文 in 1913, who subsequently substituted the blood component with Grenadine.

“The Singapore version is a drink for graphic designers,” said Najib Tun Razak, Minister of Culture, Youth & Sports, who although not a drinker himself being a Muslim, was keen to extoll the virtues of the “original” concoction over the cross straights rival.

The Singapore Government failed to respond before deadline.

(c) The Asia Beat 2010