PUTRAJAYA, Sept 24 — Malaysia will join Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore in a multinational bid to nominate zapin for inscription on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) said the joint nomination reflects the shared cultural heritage and longstanding ties among communities across maritime Southeast Asia.
The ministry said it will submit the official nomination dossier to UNESCO by March 31, 2027, for consideration in the 2028/2029 inscription cycle.
MOTAC said zapin remains a dynamic living heritage embodying identity, continuity and cultural belonging among Malay and Muslim communities across the region.
“By joining this multinational UNESCO nomination, Malaysia aims to elevate the international visibility of zapin while protecting it against misappropriation, firmly upholding the core MADANI values of inclusivity, respect for cultural diversity and shared prosperity,” it said in a statement today.
MOTAC said this joint initiative stands as a testament to international cooperation, fostering dialogue and collaborative action across borders. It beautifully reflects the concept of the ‘Zapin Ummah’, a transnational cultural community that transcends geographical and political boundaries.
“Through this shared endeavor, the region celebrates its deeply intertwined history and the enduring vitality of its diverse expressions, including Zapin, Jipin, Jepin, Japin, Dana, Dincak and Dambus,” it said in a statement today.
MOTAC said through this joint effort, the participating nations will strengthen ties by sharing cultural knowledge and expertise among practitioners, researchers and communities.
“Future plans include grassroots collaborations such as joint performances, workshops, youth exchanges and regional festivals. Ultimately, these initiatives aim to safeguard the living tradition of Zapin, ensuring its vitality for future generations while deepening regional friendship and cultural solidarity,” it added.
MOTAC said communities, groups and practitioners who safeguard, practise and transmit zapin are central to the nomination process, with stakeholder consultations being conducted to secure their continuous consent and support.
“Broad stakeholder consultations are underway, actively gathering the continuous consent and support of local cultural practitioners. This joint effort honours their desire to share this living heritage with the global stage via UNESCO,” the statement said.
According to MOTAC, the nomination is not about asserting ownership, intellectual property rights or cultural exclusivity but safeguarding a shared living heritage that has flourished across generations.
“Our goal is to ensure the knowledge, skills and values embodied in zapin continue to be passed down from master practitioners to the youth,” the statement said.
MOTAC said in Malaysia, efforts to safeguard zapin have also been incorporated into formal education and university curricula, youth training programmes and community workshops, supported by academic research, cultural festivals and digital documentation.
