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Grand Finale of MAGGI® Jom Masak & Menang Bersama Sees Grand Prize Winner Going Home with New Isuzu D-Max
Kuching, August 3, 2025 - In a joyous closing tribute to the traditions and hearty community spirit of Sarawak’s Gawai season, MAGGI® shone the spotlight on enticing local flavours and cooks who represent the true essence of its theme ‘Honouring the Cooks Behind the Festivities’ campaign. The lively grand finale of the ‘Jom Masak & Menang Bersama’ campaign, which took place on 3 August 2025 in VivaCity Megamall Kuching, brought together enthusiastic home cooks, families, foodies and others for a feast of the senses.
Each year MAGGI® celebrates Sarawak’s culinary heritage during Gawai as an immersive experience centred around the deep love for food and the meaningful moments shared as a community. A beloved companion in Sarawakian households and deeply embedded in the local culture and heritage, MAGGI® not only connects people and strengthen bonds through food, it also empowers communities by supporting local causes and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Following an exciting two-month journey across Sarawak, seven finalists went head-to-head to demonstrate their culinary skills in a cooking competition under the tagline “Warisan Citarasa Sarawak”. Each contestant was challenged to create a dish using a mystery box featuring local ingredients such as Ikan Salei Lumek and Sayur Kecei- paying tribute to the flavours and traditions that define Sarawak’s rich food legacy.
Based on these dishes, the panel of judges then selected the top three contestants, who advanced to the second round for a sensorial taste test challenge, where they had to identify five unknown ingredients. The finalist who named all five ingredients correctly was crowned the grand prize winner.
Emerging as champion, Norihan Bt Jamil, a housewife from Kuching, won the Isuzu D-Max while the first runner-up received branded cooking appliances worth RM 3,000. The remaining five finalists also received RM1,500 worth of branded cooking appliances each.
Norihan Bt Jamil (centre) receiving the grand prize - a brand-new ISUZU D-MAX.
Additionally, as part of the ‘Jom Masak & Menang Bersama MAGGI®’ contest, every purchase of MAGGI® products between May 1 to June 30, 2025, saw MAGGI® donating RM0.10, with the total of RM15,000 channelled towards PurpleLily Social Association Kuching, a Sarawak-based NGO that uplifts women and families.
Ms. Ivy Tan presenting cheque of RM15,000 donation to Puan Dyg Norfirani Talhata, Community Coordinator of PurpleLily Kuching, witnessed by YB Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development of Sarawak.
YB Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development of Sarawak said, “Every year, MAGGI® has made our Gawai Dayak celebrations extra special, with sincere support and care that allow us to celebrate our culture and traditions with great joy. Going beyond this, MAGGI®’s support for the less privileged and its efforts to empower women through initiatives like Wanita Cukup Berani has remained a constant part of the betterment of communities in Sarawak. We are immensely fortunate for this and look forward to a longstanding partnership.”
Ms. Ivy Tan Link Cheh, Business Executive Officer of MAGGI®, Malaysia and Singapore said “We are deeply grateful for the support from Sarawakians and honoured to be part of their lives and celebration each year. Through worthy partnerships and heartfelt contributions during Gawai, MAGGI® can lend a helping hand to underserved communities, so they move forward in life. Our strong heritage and presence in Sarawak continue to enrich our annual campaign, enabling us to strengthen respect for local traditions and local cuisine through the stories of everyday cooks and their powerful role in preserving culture and connecting generations, while also unifying people.”
Taking it up a notch this year, MAGGI® paid tribute to a true Malaysian favourite – MAGGI® Kari-Lah, a flavour that hits every sense. MAGGI® Kari is a beloved cultural icon known for its consistent, bold and deeply satisfying 12-spice broth. Its signature aroma and soul-warming taste have long united Malaysians across generations, states and occasions.
Bringing to life the spirit of taste and togetherness, the MAGGI® Kari-Lah Roadshow marked a milestone with its first-ever nationwide event in East Malaysia. This travelling celebration brought Sarawakians together to rediscover the warmth and joy this iconic dish represents. Visitors of all ages had the opportunity to participate in a multisensory experience featuring the MAGGI® Kari-Lah journey, with five interactive zones inspired by taste, aroma, texture, sound and sight.
In addition, there were cooking showcases of Umai Udang MAGGI® Kari and MAGGI® Kari Terung Asam by MAGGI®’s resident chefs, Chef Sharifah Hamidah Syed Mohsin and Chef Muhammad Hakimi Badrul Hisham, featuring local ingredients seasoned with popular MAGGI® products as well as vibrant performances, interactive games and fun-filled activities for the public to fully immerse themselves in the warm spirit of Gawai.
For contest winner details, recipes and more, visit https://www.maggi.my/ms/aktiviti-maggi/maggi-gawai-kaamatan/.
About MAGGI®
MAGGI® is the iconic food brand in Malaysia. Its core mission is to create good-food moments that bring families closer together. Through its wide range of products and food solutions, MAGGI® helps Malaysians to prepare tasty and balanced homemade meals for themselves or their families every day. The brand is also committed to the ever-evolving needs of meal providers, providing innovative solutions from noodles to culinary products, which continue to delight and inspire Malaysians to cook the fresh food they love and believe in. To learn more, please visit www.maggi.my.
About Nestlé Malaysia: Nourishing Malaysians for Over a Century
Since 1912, Nestlé has been nourishing Malaysians and earning their trust through our quality brands and products. We take pride in our role as a responsible corporate citizen, striving to improve the communities in which we operate. Today, we operate six factories, employing over 5,000 Malaysians. All our products are Halal, making us the largest Halal manufacturer for Nestlé globally.
As the world's largest food and beverage manufacturer, with our headquarters based in Switzerland, Nestlé operates in over 180 countries. With a workforce of over 270,000 dedicated employees, we are driven by our purpose to unlock the power of food, enhancing the quality of life for everyone, both today and for future generations. Our commitment to nutrition, health, and wellness guides our performance, ensuring we deliver on our promise of GOOD FOOD, GOOD LIFE.
To discover more about our century-long journey of nourishing Malaysians, please visit our website at https://www.nestle.com.my/ask-nestle/we-are-nestle.
For more information, please contact:
Shaheen Zaffar
Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad
Tel: (+603) 7965 6456
E-mail: [email protected]
Ooi See Bee
Sabah & Sarawak MAGGI® PR
E-mail: [email protected]
