KOTA KINABALU: Multinational or joint-nominations for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) recognitions for certain cultural heritages can avoid overlaps and ensure minimal controversies.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said this is because there are shared traditions between countries, citing examples of the multinational nominations for ‘pantun’ done with Indonesia and the ‘Wangkang’ festival together with China.
Mahdzir who is Malaysian National Commission for Unesco president, was responding to a question on updates on the three types of cultural heritage for recognition by Unesco’s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which Malaysia submitted back in March this year.
Besides pantun and the Wangkang festival, Malaysia has also nominated 'Dondang Sayang'.
“If we raised it on our own, there might be problems arising later.
“For example batik; in Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Indonesia they have batik designs too ... even in South Africa.
“So submitting this would be difficult and these are the things we need to consider when submitting nominations.
“On the progress of the three nominations, getting our ancestors’ heritage approved takes some time .. We are waiting for Unesco’s evaluation committee to visit us,” he told reporters after chairing the 39th Commission’s general meeting at Wisma Pendidikan Sabah here.
On an update over Sabah’s Maliau Basin and Danum Valley, which have long been proposed as the World Heritage Sites, he said their nominations are being considered, pending thorough and comprehensive reports.
Yesterday, State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun was quoted as saying they are in no hurry to pursue the status as they first need to comply with all the strict requirements.