'Kerabu Bronok Selatan', potential gourmet draw in Muar

By Kamarul Halim M Kamal

MUAR, May 11 (Bernama) -- The discovery of sea cucumber or bronok in Sungai Muar recently has not only provided local scientists with a new finding to study but it also has the potential to become a new source of income for the local community through a local ‘kerabu’ (salad) dish called 'Kerabu Bronok Selatan'.

Initial research found that the bronok (a variety of sea cucumber) or known by its scientific name Acaudina molpadioides in Sungai Muar is similar to bronok found in Langkawi. Langkawi is known for its sea cucumber-based dishes.

With the discovery of bronok by well-known 'folk scientist' Mohd Ilham Norhakim Lokman and followed by further research conducted by Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), it is hoped that this sea cucumber will make Muar equally popular among the ‘kerabu bronok’ lovers.

UTHM head of research Dr Kamarul Rahim Kamarudin said the study, conducted by the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology UTHM, in collaboration with the fishing community and local seafood entrepreneurs, is aimed at helping the community to make bronok as a source of income besides seeing that there is a potential in rearing it in the river estuary.

“Bronok or Acaudina molpadioides is also referred to as a sea potato due to its shape resembling a potato. It breeds in marine ecosystems," he said when met by Bernama at UTHM Pagoh Campus near here.

According to Kamarul, if there are big catches of sea cucumber in Sungai Muar, it is not impossible that one day there will be ‘Bronok Selatan’ or ‘Bronok Muar’, and fans of this sea cucumber-based speciality will no longer need to go to Langkawi to enjoy this delicacy.

He said ‘kerabu bronok’, or known as sea cucumber salad among foreign tourists, is an additional attraction to Langkawi. Hence, Muar has the potential to be popular with its own ‘kerabu’ as well.

"Kerabu bronok is considered to contain nutrients similar to golden sea cucumber which is the main ingredient in the production of traditional sea cucumber-based products that can help with healing of wounds and for rejuvenation.

"The popularity of ‘kerabu bronok’ in Langkawi was impetus to introduce the dish in Muar after getting the latest information (based on research) on the presence of the species in Sungai Muar estuary.

“Based on observations on external features or studies of samples obtained from the Sungai Muar estuary, it was found that this bronok are similar to the characteristics of Acaudina molpadioides and also the main ingredient of ‘kerabu’ used in Langkawi," he said.

He said to ensure that the species of the sea cucumber is actually similar to the bronok species in Langkawi, oscillation or small bone extraction from the sample tissue is conducted. The status of the species is expected to be known this year.

"DNA sequencing methods will also be carried out to get a final conclusion on the status of the sample," he said.

Kamarul said as Muar is already famous for several unique types of local food including oyster-based dishes, the introduction of ‘kerabu bronok’ as an additional item on the menu is expected to boost the local tourism sector.

“By introducing and popularising ‘kerabu bronok’ in Muar, people will have an additional destination of choice to enjoy the dish,” he added.

-- BERNAMA