Indonesia, Malaysia Explore Stronger Cooperation in Cultural Heritage

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Malaysia have significant potential to expand cooperation in cultural heritage and language, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said during the Welcoming Dinner of the Madani Intellectual Council Malaysia-Indonesia (Madani Malindo) 2 at the Museum of National Awakening in Jakarta on Thursday August 20, 2026. He said the two countries share numerous cultural traditions that can be promoted through joint initiatives and international cultural recognition.

Fadli said Indonesia and Malaysia have already established cooperation in the nomination of intangible cultural heritage for international recognition. One example was the joint nomination of kebaya, which was promoted by both countries as part of their shared cultural heritage.

He said the two countries are also expected to continue their cooperation through the nomination of Mak Yong, a traditional performing art that has developed in both Malaysia and Indonesia. “This year, God willing, we will also be part of the Representative List for Mak Yong, because in the Riau Islands and Riau, Mak Yong has also developed, while in Malaysia it has already been inscribed earlier,” Fadli said.

Minister Fadli said the shared development of intangible cultural heritage provides opportunities for Indonesia and Malaysia to strengthen their cultural ties. He said many other traditional practices and cultural expressions in both countries have similarities that could become the basis for future cooperation.

Beyond cultural heritage, Fadli highlighted the strategic potential of the Indonesian-Malay language as another area of cooperation between the two countries. He said the language has a large potential community of speakers across several countries in Southeast Asia.

“I see tremendous potential in developing the Indonesian-Malay language because it is larger than the number of French speakers,” Fadli said. He explained that the combined number of speakers across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Timor-Leste could reach more than 320 to 340 million people.

Fadli also emphasized the growing international recognition of the Indonesian language. He noted that Indonesian has been recognized as the 10th language at UNESCO, which he said could further support efforts to expand the language’s global presence.

He expressed hope that Indonesia and Malaysia would continue to strengthen cultural cooperation through joint heritage initiatives and language development. According to Fadli, these efforts can further strengthen the historical and cultural bonds between the two countries while promoting their shared cultural identity on the international stage.