KUCHING: Malaysia and Indonesia will continue to strengthen diplomatic ties by expanding cooperation in the fields of culture, heritage and tourism.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said a recent discussion with the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, Datuk Indera Hermono focused on joint cultural heritage preservation initiatives, including the successful inscription of Kebaya as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) on a multinational level.
“Malaysia also welcomes efforts to strengthen the recognition of Mak Yong art and has proposed participation in the UNESCO inscription of Gamelan, which has already been recognised in Indonesia.
“This effort reflects the commitment of both countries to ensure that cultural heritage continues to be preserved and passed down to future generations,” he said in a Facebook post.
In addition, Tiong mentioned that they also discussed cooperation in the eco-tourism and wellness tourism sectors.
“Indonesia has shown success in developing sustainable tourism and Malaysia intends to learn from and implement best practices in our tourism industry.
“In terms of health tourism, we see great potential to enrich this industry by leveraging the uniqueness of traditional herbs and globally recognised holistic treatments,” he added.
Tiong emphasised that UNESCO recognition was not about exclusive ownership but rather a form of respect for the culture shared by the people in the region.
“A strong cultural relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia is not just about history but also a shared responsibility to ensure this heritage continues to be preserved.
“Therefore, close cooperation between both countries is crucial in educating the public about the importance of cultural heritage preservation,” he said.
