Malaysia joins regional bid to nominate Zapin for UNESCO Heritage List - MOTAC
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Malaysia will join Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore in a multinational bid to nominate the traditional Malay dance‑drum art form zapin for UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural…
Source: bernama.com · Bernama · CNA · Malaysia-China Insight · Sinar Daily · bernama.com · The Star · September 25, 2026 at 2:02 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 25 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Malaysia will join Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore in a multinational bid to nominate the traditional Malay dance‑drum art form zapin for UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAB) said on Thursday.
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The joint nomination, which the ministry said reflects “shared cultural heritage and longstanding ties among communities across maritime Southeast Asia”, will be formalised in a dossier that MOTAB will submit to UNESCO by 31 March 2027 for consideration in the 2028‑2029 inscription cycle. The move is intended to raise the international profile of zapin and to protect the practice from misappropriation, the ministry added.
MOTAB described zapin as a “dynamic living heritage embodying identity, continuity and cultural belonging among Malay and Muslim communities across the region”. In a statement, the ministry said the multinational effort “upholds the core MADANI values of inclusivity, respect for cultural diversity and shared prosperity”.
It also framed the bid as a testament to “international cooperation, fostering dialogue and collaborative action across borders”, and highlighted the concept of the “Zapin Ummah” – a transnational cultural community that “transcends geographical and political boundaries”.
The statement listed a range of related performance traditions – “Zapin, Jipin, Jepin, Japin, Dana, Dincak and Dambus” – as part of the shared cultural fabric the nomination seeks to celebrate. It said the participating nations will use the bid to “strengthen ties by sharing cultural knowledge and expertise among practitioners, researchers and communities”.
Future activities outlined include “joint performances, workshops, youth exchanges and regional festivals” aimed at safeguarding the living tradition for future generations while deepening regional friendship and cultural solidarity.
Stakeholder engagement is a central element of the process, MOTAB said. “Broad stakeholder consultations are underway, actively gathering the continuous consent and support of local cultural practitioners,” the statement noted, adding that communities, groups and practitioners who safeguard, practise and transmit zapin are “central to the nomination process”. The ministry stressed that the nomination is not about asserting ownership, intellectual‑property rights or cultural exclusivity, but about protecting a shared heritage that has flourished across generations.
According to the ministry, the ultimate goal is to ensure that “the knowledge, skills and values embodied in zapin continue to be passed down from master practitioners to the youth”. By securing UNESCO recognition, the four countries aim to create a formal framework that supports grassroots collaborations and institutional backing for the art form, thereby enhancing its vitality and visibility on the global stage.
The bid arrives as regional cultural ministries increasingly look to UNESCO listings to bolster tourism and cultural industries. With the dossier due in early 2027, the participating governments will continue consultations with practitioners and prepare the documentation required for UNESCO’s 2028‑2029 cycle, positioning zapin as a flagship example of maritime Southeast Asia’s intertwined cultural history.
Related: Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAB) · Kuala Lumpur