by Theleaders | May 11, 2026 1:14 pm
GEORGE TOWN, May 11 — The Penang government has gazetted seven cultural heritage arts items and 28 traditional food items this year under the Penang State Heritage Enactment 2011.
State executive councillor for tourism and creative economy Wong Hon Wai said another religious heritage tradition is also in the process of being gazetted.
“Meanwhile, one religious tradition heritage item is still in the process of being gazetted,” he told the Penang state legislative assembly today.
The tradition is the Teong Guan Phor Thor celebration, commonly known as the Hungry Ghost Festival.
Wong said all intangible cultural heritage items gazetted at the state level may also be recommended for national recognition under the National Heritage Act 2005.
“Selected heritage elements may also be considered for international recognition under Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” he added.
He said the state had previously supported the nomination of the Chingay Procession for Unesco recognition through a joint submission by Malaysia and Singapore in March 2025.
Penang has also backed the nomination of Lion Dance under the same Unesco list through a joint submission by Malaysia and China, which was also sent in March 2025.
In January, the state government announced the gazettement of 10 traditional foods and six intangible heritage items as state heritage.
Wong said additional heritage items were gazetted on May 7, including the martial art Nillaikalakki Silambam and traditional foods such as air batu campur, ais kepal, capati, cendol, char kuay teow, kari kapitan, keema, asam laksa, martabak, masalodeh, mi goreng mamak, muruku, penderam, putu mayam, roti canai, teh tarik, tosai and yong tau foo.
He said the state government continues to promote local intangible heritage at both domestic and international levels.
“Among them were kebaya fashion showcases and Malaysian breakfast culture presentations during Penang Week at World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan,” he said.
Wong added that the Chingay Procession is held annually in George Town and Butterworth, while Penang chingay teams were also invited to participate in the Singapore Chingay Parade in 2025 and 2026.
“Through the Penang State Museum Board, the state government is currently organising the ‘Silat Siku 12 Exhibition’ at the museum branch on Macalister Road,” he said.
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