By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 25: Malaysia has completed the nomination process for the Kelantan Wayang Kulit, Lion Dance and Chingay parade for inscription on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, with evaluations set to begin in stages from 2026.
At the same time, it has also begun the nomination process of entering the ’24 Festive Drum’ into UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Tiong King Sing said that, based on UNESCO’s timeline, the Kelantan Wayang Kulit is expected to enter the 2026 nomination cycle for the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Lion Dance and Chingay procession (giant flag procession) are slated for consideration in 2027.
The Lion Dance nomination is a joint submission by Malaysia and China, while Chingay parade is jointly nominated with Singapore, marking the second time Malaysia has collaborated with both countries on UNESCO nominations.
“The intangible cultural heritage elements of the Kelantan Wayang Kulit, Lion Dance, and Chingay parade, which have completed the nomination process and are now in line for UNESCO’s consideration, reflect Malaysia’s unique multicultural identity and offer experiences well worth discovering for visitors from around the world,” Tiong said in a Facebook post today.
Tiong noted that Malaysia’s cultural profile has continued to rise globally since 2023, with more national assets gaining recognition on UNESCO’s World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage lists.
He highlighted the inscription of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Selangor Forest Park in 2024 as a significant milestone, describing it as a pioneering model for forest restoration and ecological rehabilitation that underscores the country’s ecological value alongside its cultural richness.
In addition, Malaysia has begun the nomination process for the ‘24 Festive Drum’, a Malaysian-founded percussion art form, for inclusion in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The process was initiated last year.
On promotional efforts, Tiong said the Ministry organised 40 Malaysian cultural events abroad in 2025 as part of efforts to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2026 in key global markets.
“These events, combining cultural performances, artistic showcases and food-tasting sessions, were designed to give international audiences a first-hand experience of Malaysian culture and encourage deeper engagement through travel,” he said. – DayakDaily
