15th July 2026
Asia's first And Largest Durian Experience Center Opens
Zhang Qingxin: Reduce the use of pesticides and insecticides
In his opening remarks, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing emphasized that durian growers must reduce the overuse of pesticides and insecticides and prioritize food safety so that consumers can enjoy Malaysian durians with peace of mind. He said that news of Malaysian durians being returned by Singapore has been circulating on social media recently. Although the veracity of this claim cannot be confirmed at present, he hopes that similar incidents will not occur.
Maintaining the quality of Malaysian durians
Zhang Qingxin pointed out that among Malaysia’s many iconic tourism products, durian is a highly distinctive and attractive delicacy, and also one of the important highlights of the country’s tourism industry. “When I recently attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, many people praised Malaysian durians as being better than those from other countries, so we must continue to maintain the quality.” He said that in the past few years, the private sector has promoted local products in a more creative and sensory-experience-focused way, which has not only enriched the country’s tourism offerings but also benefited farmers, businesses, local communities, and the next generation.Hong Weibang: Creating a location representing the “national fruit”
KLDEX co-founder Hong Weibang ( Malay cousin ) said that when he first got involved in the durian industry, he hoped to create a place that could represent the “national fruit”. Now, with the support of relevant organizations, this dream has finally come true. He said that Malaysia is currently experiencing a “durian tsunami.” What was once Malaysia’s high-end durians are now being forced to be sold at low prices, due to the long-standing lack of unified business standards in the durian industry. He cited an example: there are currently no official grading standards for durians in the country, and there is a lack of standardized guidelines to differentiate the price differences between durians from old trees and those from young trees.
“MC Durian Innovation Base” assists in the construction of a rating system.
Therefore, he recommended the “MC Durian Innovation Base” jointly promoted by MyBolehBoleh and CIQ Biosafety. He said the base will promote a standardized classification system to help establish a clearer, more professional and reliable durian grading system. Attendees included Datuk Shaharuddin, Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Datuk Wan Hashim, Secretary General of the Ministry of Education; and Hong Jianwei, co-founder and managing director of KLDEX. Kuala Lumpur Durian Experience Centre (KLDEX) Opening hours: 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Ticket price: From RM31 Theater performance times: 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM, 5:00 PM