Classic Edition 

Food Critic
Classic

Malaysia First Biography 

of Famous in Gourmet 

Part I of III 

Jacky Liew

Written By 

The First Food Critic and Food God in Malaysia

Jacky Liew (Chinese: 廖城兰, pinyin: Liào Chéng Lán) aka (Chinese: 廖圣然, pinyin: Liào Shèng Rán), his ancestral home is Guangdong, China. He was better known by his pen name Shi Gongzi or Food Master (Chinese: 食公子) and was a Food Critic in 80s’. He was also a educator, artist, political critic, food historian, data scientist(1). He advocated the “extreme original taste”, “eat fresh” and pay attention to the “nine changes in nine types of soups”.

In 2008, he rewarded and recognized by P.M.C Social Service Excellence Award from the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the Supreme Head / the King) of Malaysia due to his excellent contribution to society(2). It is the great honour for him who trusted by the Yamtuan (the King) to make a descriptive record of the royal(3) and been the first Chinese writer who called into the Palace.  He was also the recipient of the World Food Gourmet Badges under the appearance of the 11th Yamtuan Besar (Grand Ruler) of the Negeri Sembilan(4). Furthermore, he was ranked among star chefs of Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan in 2014(5)

He also catalogued in Wikipedia and China Baidu Baike. He was the first Malaysian gourmet and Food God to be included in the “Modern Chinese Gourmet” along with eight ancient gourmets in the five throusand years of Chinese Food Kingdom such as The Sage Confucious, Three kingdoms military strategist Cao Cao, poetry saint Du Fu in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, Northern Song Dynasty politician Su Dongpo, Qing Dynasty writer Yuan Mei(6). He was also the only Malaysian listed among the 68 food critics shown in Google.(7) At the same time, he was also selected as the “International Celebrity” in the Chinese Liao (Liew) Surname Family Encyclopedia along with the ancestors of the Liao family in the world.(8) Earlier in 2012, he was compiled into the “Who’s Who in a Hundred Years” of his birthplace. He also been praised by the head of state and got the foreign envoys, deputy ministers and member of parliament signed him as the “Malaysia Food Critic”(9). Furthermore, he was reported by the China official media as the “Malaysia Food Critic’s Originator”, “Food God”. The U.S “International Business Times” and “China Finance Times” honored him as “the most influential food critic originator” which leading the direction of later food culture and emerging gourmets and cooks following him, produced countless “Shi Gongzi (Jacky’s pen name)”. One of the world’s top ten newspapers, China’s “People’s Daily” supplement “People’s Art”, placed him with Hong Kong and became one of the “Five Modern Gourmets”. All of them are from Guangdong and he is the only one from Malaysia.

He has two sons and two daughters namely Liew Ying Zheng, Liew Yong Zheng, Liew Xu Yi and Liew Wei Wei. They were all educated to involved in science and research area, software enginerring and legal field. His wife, Christin Lee, has same ancestral home as him and serviced in financial industry. In 2014, she won the award of “Malaysia Bank Simpanan Nasional Top Product Specialist”(10).

Shi Gongzi (Chinese: Shi Gongzi, pinyin: Shí gōngzǐ ), male, born in Malaysia and known as a talented man in the literary circles. Jacky Liew is good at thinking and has a complicated personality and rich experience. He has good public image and also the first person who leads the food critics and recommendation into the commercial field. He also the first person that turn the negative image of food critic that only enjoy food, drinks and fun into the career that contribute to the country and citizens. He always engage in food promotion and tourism in Malaysia, retain the recipes of restaurants and researches for the Malaysia hundred’s year of food culture, makes huge contributions to Malaysia food. He also been the jury in International Culinary Competition(11), the jury for beauty pageant competition and obtain various awards. Any famous restaurant must consist of Jacky Liew’s photo as the directional for the public and such photos were over thousands. The place where he goes including tourism spots will hang the banner to welcome Jacky Liew(12).

In 2002, he became the Lecturer of Today Agriculture College and advisor of the college magazine(13). In 2006, he was invited to become the National Business Coordinator in Nanyang Press(14) and paid his efforts to the Chinese associations, Chinese educations, Chinese society and Chinese parties. In 2007, he was involved in political commentary who met with 119 politicians from the nations and abroad(15). In 2010, his notable work “Truly Nyonya Malacca” catalogued in the U.S Washington National Library (Library of Congress), Singapore National Library, Malaysia National Library, the University Library of UTeM, Malaysia and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore (16).

As a scholar to Malaysia Food History, his literary work in 2010 “Truly Nyonya Malacca was selected and become part of collection of the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, the National Library of Singapore, the National Library of Malaysia, the Library of University Technical Malaysia (UTeM) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore. He also the first person who introduced the concept of Nanyang Cuisines which comprise of “Malaysian food influences by Malay Archipelago” and he divides Malaysian food into 3 social classes which are 1. King and Noble Cuisines, 2. National Heritage Food; 3. Cuisines of 5 main races based on geography, languages family and so on, that is 1. Malay; 2. Chinese; 3. North and South Indian, Mamak, Indian Muslim; 4. Nyonya and Chitty; 5 Aborigines in Peninsular Malaysia and indigenous of Sabah and Sarawak and another 2 special classes which are Eurasian Portugis and Siam Muslim in North Malaysia(17). In 2011, he received the Excellent Paper Award in China International Symposium. (18)

In 2013, he left all his columns in legacy media and paid attention to the food and ads shooting and production. He later entered into Science area with two of his sons and studied the Data Science, Software Engineering and applied Internet Technology to redefine the Malaysia Food Evaluation Standards. In 2017, the journal of the Korea cited Jacky Liew’s work “Truly Nyonya Malacca” as a systemic study of the Malacca regional Nyonya food culture(19). In 2018, he became the research object of the master’s thesis of the University of Tunku Abdul Rahman in “Food Review And Its Implication on Malaysia” and pointed out he was the first “food critic in Malaysia”(20). In 20 November 2021, on the day of his wife’s birthday, he published the Malaysia’s First Biography of Famous in Gourmet “Food Critic Classics”. Jacky Liew was included in the Encyclopedia of U.S World Biography(21), Encyclopedia of the European Swiss Academic Community, and ranked among the world’s authoritative scholars and scientists in the international academic hall(22) and he was cataloging into France Online Library which dedicated in the literary(23). The definition of Food Critic Jacky Liew also included into the Japanese online encyclopedia and dictionary(24) .

“The Immortal Patriotic Spirit”

Since the master thesis “the first person known as food critic”,  “Truly Nyonya Malacca” included in U.S, Singapore, Malaysia National library and universities. Until recorded in Wikipedia, China Baidu Baike, U.S N.Y. World Biography Encyclopedia, Europe Switzerland Academic Encyclopedia, The “Food Critic Classic” is bound to attract the attention of the world.

When later generations traced the history of Malaysia Food, the world will pay attention to the joint contributions of Food Critic Originator Jacky Liew and the surrounding people involved in this field. 

For the theory of “Malaysian cuisine” influenced by Malay Archipelago, and divided into 3 social class and five main races that he introduced, He dare not say that this is an immortal theory, but at least it has great inspiration for later academic research. And hope that future scholars expand the innovative research based on this theory To ensure that Malaysian cuisine enjoys a high academic status in the international arena.

China Economic Herald – China Development

China Nation Official Media

Today Agriculture Institute Lecturer and Advisor of Institute Magazine and Product

Shi Gongzi

Jacky Liew

Pingat Khidmat Cemerlang Masyarakat (P.M.C)

NameJacky Liew
GenderMale
BirthplaceMalaysia
NationalityMalaysia
Ancestral homeGuangdong, China
OccupationsFood critic, writer, director, AI data tech
PennameShi Gongzi
HonorMalaysia Food Critic,World Food Gourmet
Style Restaurant evaluation
Recipe preservation
Trace food origin
Nyonya culture
Malaysian cuisine and promotion of traditional Chinese local dishes
Notable WorkTruly Nyonya Malacca
CoupleChristin Lee
Children Two sons: Liew Ying Zheng; Liew Yong Zheng (Science and Research)
Two daughters:
Liew Xu Yi
Bachelor of Law (Hons)
USIM Master of Law
Advocates and Solicitors of Malaya
Liew Wei Wei: Law

Real Time Statistic

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  • (13) In 2002, Jacky Liew was invited as the Today’s Agro College Lecturer and College Agro-Journal advisor 

    (11) The Chief Judge of the International Cooking Competition 

    (18) Obtained the China Award of Excellence Thesis

    Chief Jury in International Competition 

    Malaysia Food Critic Jacky Liew

    (3) The First Chinese Writer who called into the Palace by Yamtuan (the King) to make a descriptive record of the royal. 

    ROYAL CLASSIC

    The biography of 10th Yang Di Pertuan Agong

    This is a biography of 10th Yang Di Pertuan Agong (Supreme Head/ The King) and signed in the book.  The Supreme Head said to Jacky Liew “you have to do it well.” 

    In the Malay New Year Eid al-Fitr, the yellow packet bestowed to the royal family members

    The 10th Supreme Head Tuanku Ja’afar gifted a golf cap to Malaysian gourmet Jacky Liew

    FOOD CRITIC

    Malaysia

    Honor for the country

    (16)  The Literary Work of Jacky Liew had became the part of collection of U.S, Singapore, Malaysia National Library and Universities.

    (20)  The research subject of Master Thesis “Food Review and its Implication on Malaysia”
    (16) The Literary Work of Jacky Liew had became the part of collection of U.S, Singapore, Malaysia National Library and Universities. In 2017, Jacky was categorized as the representative in Education, Culture and Social Science area. This had shown his contributions in protection to the nearly extinct Nyonya cultures. 

    The book “Truly Nyonya Malacca” catalogued by Library of Congress, Washington National Library, and the collection of Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore. The standard for university collections is books that need to be selected by scholars and experts from various disciplines and have higher academic core values. Therefore, this is an affirmation of the author’s content value, authenticity and academic quality.

    (20) In the Master Thesis “Food Review And Its Implication on Malaysia” of Wan Mee San written that Jacky Liew is the first person called as food critic in Malaysia since 1988. He was the “Feminine Magazine” columnist. 

    UTAR Master Thesis

    Review for PDF  Click.

    (19) Korea Academic Journal cited Nyonya Scholar Jacky Liew’s Work 

    Author Ooi Keat Gin History Professor 

    Korea Academic Journal cited Malaysia Food Critic Jacky Liew’s “Truly Nyonya Malacca” 

    as systematically to research on the Straits Settlement Malacca, Penang, Singapore’s Nyonya Food Culture 

    (22)  Europe Switzerland Academic Encyclopedia included the academic researches of Malaysia Food Critic in “Big Data application in Food Industry” 

    Europe Switzerland

    THE RESEARCH

    INCLUDED IN ACADEMIC 

    EXPERT ORGANIZATION 

    Malaysia’s first originator known as a gourmet

    His biography as the contemporary latest research 

    and contribution is included in the 

    European Switzerland Academic Encyclopedia

    And it ranks among the world’s 

    Authoritative scholars And scientists 

    In the international academic hall

    Reference to God Big Data

    The Achievement of Technology in Food 

    The European-Switzerland’s Academic Encyclopedia aims to collect the latest research results of contemporary researchers on specific topics. The entries are related to the publications of academic journals such as agriculture, medicine, science, engineering, humanities. It also brings together scientific research institutions, consists of large number of database resources of patent achievements, scientific and technological celebrities, academic literature, and peer audits. The criteria for the inclusion of biographical articles include scholars’ innovative concepts and opinions, important discoveries, key figures, future directions, development status, historical milestones and overall reviews of specific research fields, provide future research guidelines or reveal his/her outstanding achievements in technology-related fields and even contributions to the world.

    (1)

    China Economic Times – Development Research Centre

    China Nation Official Media

    中国经济宏观管理

    China Macro Eco. – Nat. Development & Reform Commission

    China Nation Official Media

     Computer Newspaper

    China Tech Billboard – Data Scientist Jacky Liew 

    (23) Catalogued in France Online Library – Babelio is the cataloging website in France dedicated for literature 

    Among people who obtained any France Food Prize, France King of the Chef from France Cordon Blues, Chaine des Ro-tisseurs, Escoffier, but there is only one in Malaysia, Food Critic Jacky Liew has been included in the France Online Cataloging website. 

    Chaine des Ro-tisseurs

    – Food Gourmet

    Gourmet Jacky Liew and nuclear engineer Dato Lau took a photo at the “Global Chef” dinner of the French Gourmet Association (Chaine des Ro-tisseurs). Chefs from various countries served dishes from other countries, paired with fine wines from the same region.

    (24) Jacky Liew catalogued in Japan online encyclopedia which consists of 560 dictionaries, encylopedia and phrases. 

    (7) Included in Google Algorithm “Food Critics” World list, M’sia only have 1

    International Standards

    The standard to evaluate who’s the food critic, food God

    To know more about World Class Food Critic, please search “Famous Food Critic” keyword in Google

    The Internet Search Engine AI evaluation standards does not control by human. It is fair and transparent in measures the popularity of food critis and formed the list. It never the  one sided version of legacy media, organizations or one declare by himself. When checking the normal word online such as “food critics”, you will found the truth. 

    The World Class Food Critic selected by AI in 2021

    In the keyword of “Famous Food Critics”, the Google Algorithms are catalogued the “Food Critics” around the world. There are 233 countries and 7.9 billion, but the food critics who internationally renowned and represents the prosperities of the countries, in U.S, Europe, England, French, Australia, Asia, Malaysia have 1 (Jacky Liew), Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, total are 20+.  Looking at the 5,000-year culture of the Chinese food kingdom, since Yi yin in the Shang Dynasty, there are only a dozen of Chinese famous food critic. It can be seen that the gourmets have the high popularity requires a high threshold. Even some countries, although rich, do not have this culture, such as some countries in East Asia or some have different names such as Japan and Korea called it as culinary expert. 

    (6) The first Malaysian Food Critic Jacky Liew included into the Chinese Food Critic list with 8 of the ancient food critic among 5000 years such as The Sage Master Cofucius, Cao Wei Dynasty builder Cao Cao, Tang Dynasty Poet Tu fu, North Song Dynasty Politician Su Dongpo, Ming & Qing Dynasty Historian Zhang Dai,  Qing Dynasty Dramatist Li Yu, Qing Dynasty Literary Expert Jin Shengtan and Qing  Dynasty Prosaist Yuan Mei. Only him as a Data Scientist stands out from 1.4 billion of China population and World, it is the glory of Malaysian and his family. 

    China Kuaidong Baike 

    China Sougou Baike 

    Jacky Liew included into the China or Chinese

    Current and Ancient Food Critic’s list 

    China 360 Baike 

    The Historical Moment of listed 

    witness by the 

    First Food Critic in Malaysia

    Int. Food God,World Food Gourmet

    (8) Liew’s Genealogy

    (21)

    The Affirmation to Biography

    For just a literary work that Truly Nyonya Malacca can be recorded in Malaysia, Singapore, U.S and others national library and also his biography was included into the U.S biography encyclopedia, only Jacky Liew, the first food critic in Malaysia. 

    America N. Y world biography encyclopedia

    The “Encyclopedia of World Biography” in New York, USA, mainly includes famous figures who have made major contributions to human culture in every generation from all over the world, and focuses on professionals in the humanities and arts, and demonstrates that their work or life has been studied and discussed by later generations. It required to integrate a variety of materials to prove their qualifications, such as internationally famous personalities or national celebrity records, encyclopedias, collections, databases, etc., in order to achieve accurate and widely recognized standards of celebrities to be recorded in the annals of history.

    World Biography Encyclopedia Inside Page

    DAULAT TUANKU 

    The Tuanku and I 

    The first Food Critic summoned by Yang Di Pertuan Negeri (The King) In Malaysia 

    and granted with P.M.C Excellency in serving the society.

    (2)

    (3)

    Tunku, The Royal Families, Noble

    (4)

    (5)、(10)

    (12)、(14)

    Politicians, Business, Famous and Celebrities 

    (15)、(17)

    (9)The words from Deputy Chief Minister, Diplomat,

    Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Speakers, ADUN to Jacky Liew

    REPRESENTATIVE OF TAIWAN

    Taiwan – Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Finland Victor C.Y. Tseng

    MINISTRY OF TOURISM MALAYSIA

    Donald Lim, the Deputy Minister of Tourism of Malaysia in 2006, Deputy Minister of Finance in 2010 

    7TH PRESIDENT OF MCA & MINISTER OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 

    Ong Ka Ting, Minister of Housing and Local Government, 7th President of MCA, appointed as Malaysia’s Special Envoy to China in 2011

    MINISTER, DEPUTY MINISTER AND SPEAKER OF MALAYSIA

    Sabah – YB Dato’ Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister
    Dato’ Raymond Tan, Minister Industrial Development Sabah 
    YB Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Malaysia

    YB Dato Lee Chee Leong, Deputy Home Minister in 2010, Deputy Minister of Finance in 2013

    Sarawak – YB Dato Yong Khoon Seng, Deputy Minister of Works in 2010

    Deputy President of The Senate Dato Ir. Wong Foon Meng (2004-2010)

    The Name of Food God and Food Critic

    He gradually turn his role from writer to Malaysia Food Critic 

    by assisted the newspapers and magazines to sell the copies, 

    later became first food critic in Malaysia. He took responsibility in promote 

    local food and keep the recipes of restaurants, continuously for more than 20 years. 

    Finally he became “food god” in Malaysia. However, his hardness can be seen from 

    the only 2 newspapers’ supports and there is also never have relevant 

    search results about him with the local newspapers. It can be seen that he was expelled from 

    the local media because of others wish to get the relevant benefits from food industry and due to 

    he had the possessed the title of food critic and food god. 

    Therefore, his achievements that he won is undergoes suffered. 

    In 2006, “Nanyang Siang Pau” was appointed Jacky Liew as National Business Coordinator and in his column, it specially marked “Malaysian Food Critic” to show the prudence of Jacky as the National Business Coordinator and attached Jacky’s signature. However, due to the interests of the Malaysian food and beverage market and the monopoly business that created by him leads to many people wanted to replace him, which made him suffered the “character assassination” incident in the future.

    China Magazine reported Malaysian Food Critic

    China Press” reported Malaysia Food Critic

    Singapore Magazine “Xin Flavours” reported Food God Jacky Liew went to famous shop 

    Gourmet’s Family

    Published by: 20/11/2020