Chingay joint submission on the cards for Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list
COUNTRIES observing Chingay may band together to submit a nomination for the festival to be on Unesco’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Johor Baru Tiong Hua Association president Ho Sow Tong said this was a recommendation the association and the Penang Chingay festival organiser received after making a presentation to the National Heritage Department.

“We have been pushing for this for about five years but have not been successful.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has also slowed things down as the process had to be temporarily paused.

“When Johor and Penang gave a joint presentation about Chingay to the National Heritage Department in hopes of a nomination for Unesco’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the department suggested we jointly apply with Singapore and China, who celebrate the festival too,” he said after the association’s Chinese New Year celebration at Wisma Tiong Hua in Johor Baru.

Ho added that this was the same approach used by Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand for the kebaya.

“It could take two to three years for the festival to be on the list once it has been nominated.

“By submitting a multinational nomination, we may see it happen in about a year,” he said.

Also present at the festive event were Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, state executive councillors Lee Ting Han and Mohd Hairi Mad Shah, as well as Singapore consul-general in Johor Baru Jeevan Singh and consul-general of Indonesia in Johor Baru Sigit Suryantoro Widiyanto.

Ho thanked Onn Hafiz for his support to have Chingay festival nominated for the Unesco list.

“Support from the state is very important in order to be successful,” he said.

On a related matter, Ho said the 30-day visa-free travel for Chinese and Indian nationals would also help increase the number of visitors at the festival in March.

“Preparations for Chingay started about four months ago and we expect to see a large crowd this year with the visa-free initiative,” he said.

In a speech earlier, Onn Hafiz said the state government would give its full support to efforts geared towards having the festival on the Unesco list.
Unesco,Chingay,Chinese New Year,cultural heritage
COUNTRIES observing Chingay may band together to submit a nomination for the festival to be on Unesco’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.