Arts, theatre communities hail the kebaya as a cultural unifying force

In October, KL City Opera reimagined La Bohème with a '1960s Malaya' setting at KLPac, showcasing Jane Soong in kebaya elegance as Musetta and Joseph Ng as Alcindoro. Photo: Goh Bong Hiang

The arts and theatre scene in Malaysia is celebrating alongside the fashion and heritage communities over the Unesco recognition of the kebaya, a garment cherished for its cultural significance.

The kebaya has been added to Unesco's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, following a joint nomination by Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) revealed on Dec 4.