via Borneo Bulletin, 20 May 2023: Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand have jointly submitted a multinational nomination of the kebaya, a traditional women’s garment, to UNESCO in order to recognize its cultural significance and promote cross-cultural understanding in Southeast Asia, following a series of meetings and workshops among the participating countries.
Brunei through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) together with Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand agreed to jointly submit a multinational nomination of the kebaya to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) under the category of representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for 2023.
According to the MCYS, this is the first time that the Sultanate has forwarded a nomination and also the first with the other three countries. The countries involved have discussed and agreed for the joint multinational nomination of kebaya after considering that it is a common heritage practiced in the countries of the Southeast Asian region.
Kebaya also represents and celebrates the richness of common heritage, encouraging cross-cultural understanding so that it continues to be practiced by numerous communities throughout Southeast Asia.
Source: Kebaya makes way to UNESCO list | Borneo Bulletin Online
