Jointly organized by CRIHAP, the Department of National Heritage under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, and the Malaysian Peranakan (Baba Nyonya) Association, the “International Workshop on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Elements” took place in Melaka, Malaysia, from October 31 to November 1, 2026.

The opening ceremony was attended by senior officials, including Mr. Mohamad Muda Bin Bahadin, Director General of the Department of National Heritage, and Dr. Eyo Leng Yan, Director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Division of the Department of National Heritage. The workshop brought together ICH experts, practitioners, and community representatives from six countries: China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei.

The two-day workshop featured a keynote speech, case presentations, experience-sharing sessions, and group discussions. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Ang Ming Chee, General Manager of George Town World Heritage Incorporated of Malaysia. Speaking on the theme “Fostering Exchange, Promoting Mutual Understanding, and Celebrating ICH,” she described heritage as a way of life and a source of identity passed down from one generation to the next, and stressed the importance of ensuring its continued transmission to future generations. She emphasized that safeguarding ICH must respect its role in communities’ everyday lives and livelihoods. She also outlined key principles for fostering exchange and mutual understanding: acknowledging differences, building trust, communicating effectively, celebrating diversity, and showing empathy. In addition, she highlighted the importance of youth engagement and vitality in promoting ICH, shared examples of cultural and creative product development and interactive experiences, and introduced approaches to strengthening intergenerational transmission.

The training was facilitated by Ms. Wai Yu Yau, a UNESCO facilitator. With her guidance, participants from the six countries shared their safeguarding plans for ICH elements of shared origin. She provided feedback and recommendations in light of the safeguarding circumstances and needs of each country. Participants then discussed a range of topics, including international cooperation; institutional and human capacities; transmission and education; inventorying and research; policies and legal and administrative measures; the role of ICH in society; community participation and consent; and sustainable development. These discussions culminated in the “Acknowledgement of Common Good Practices for Safeguarding Shared Intangible Cultural Heritage.” The document sets out shared principles and practices in areas such as multinational nominations, community empowerment, capacity building, documentation, legal protection, public promotion, and sustainable transmission. It also underscores that safeguarding efforts should be community-centered, participatory, inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable. The workshop not only brought together the diverse experiences of participating countries to distill common principles for multinational safeguarding, but also helped develop a practical framework for consensus and guidelines to support future collaborative efforts.