PETALING JAYA: Singapore will be nominating its rich hawker culture for Unesco's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, says its prime minister Lee Hsien Loong. The Straits Times reported if the bid is successful, Singapore's hawker culture will join the likes of Malaysia's Mak Yong theatre from Kelantan, Indonesia's batik and India's yoga on the world stage. Started in 2008, the list, which has about 400 elements to date, sets out to demonstrate the diversity of world heritage and ensure their protection. Lee described the Singapore Botanic Gardens' inscription as a Unesco World Heritage site in 2015 as a proud moment for the country, adding that putting Singapore's hawker culture on the list of intangible cultural heritage will "help to safeguard and promote this unique culture for future generations". The Straits Times reported that by September, a committee featuring members from the public and private sectors will be formed, and will submit the hawker culture nomination dossier to Unesco by March 2019.

Source: thestar August 19, 2018 14:26 UTC