Malaysia’s Durian National Fruit Bid Faces Roadblock as Indonesia Asserts Claim

While every Malaysian may believe that durian should be their national fruit, Indonesia is strongly contesting that claim. The Indonesian government argues that their nation has a more robust claim to the title due to their significantly higher durian production. Referring to the latest data, a minister stated, ‘Indonesia produced almost 2 million tonnes of durian in 2024, far surpassing Malaysia’. This statement further solidifies Indonesia’s stance that durian should rightfully be recognized as their national fruit. Zulhas, a representative, pointed to statistics from BPS indicating that Indonesia’s durian output reached 1.96 million tonnes in the previous year, the highest in five years. They emphasized that major durian production centers span across Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.