Terengganu to apply for Unesco recognition for Chinese cultural heritage

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu state government will submit an application to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) for recognition of the unique culture and heritage of the Chinese community in the state, especially in Kampung Cina.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman said the Chinese community in Terengganu was not big, with only 28,300 people but they were amazing and different from the Chinese in other states.
"The Chinese in Terengganu have adapted well to life with the other races," he said.
"Some of the older generation were able to read Jawi, cook Malay food, were comfortable wearing the kebaya and baju kurung, and could even speak in the Terengganu dialect ... so we hope this cultural heritage will get Unesco recognition," he said at a Chinese New Year open house organised by the Bandar State Assembly here today.
Also present were Ahmad Razif's wife Toh Puan Seri Halina Zakaria, State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Zubir Embong, Chairman of Terengganu MCA Datuk Toh Chin Yaw and Bandar State Legislative Assembly Coordinating Officer Toh Sheng Cheng.
Ahmad Razif said the state government had previously sent an application for Kampung Cina to be made a World Heritage Site but this was rejected by Unesco as too many of the buildings there had been renovated while there was rapid development in the surrounding areas.
He said the state government would continue with the development projects around Kampung Cina, Pasar Besar Kedai Payang, Dataran Shahbandar and Pulau Warisan to boost the tourism sector in the state.
"A telemovie will be shown tomorrow night titled Kebaya Mek Hwa (on TV3) with Kampung Cina as the location and depicting the unique culture of the Chinese community there.
"It will hopefully draw more tourists to Kampung Cina because it is only here that you can see the special features and uniqueness (of the community)," he said. — Bernama