Bandar Seri Begawan, Sunday, 30 Jamadilakhir 1447 / 21 December 2025 – The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports hosted the Majlis Meraikan Pantun ke Senarai Representatif Warisan Budaya Tak Ketara UNESCO 2025 at the Brunei Energy Hub Dermaga Diraja, Bandar Seri Begawan. The ceremony was held on Sunday, 30 Jamadilakhir 1447 corresponding to 21 December 2025.
The event was organized as an expression of gratitude and appreciation for the official recognition of pantun in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition was achieved through a joint extended nomination with Indonesia and Malaysia, which was approved during the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (20.COM) in New Delhi, India, on 11 December 2025.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of Yang Mulia Dr. Siti Norkhalbi binti Haji Wahsalfelah, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Culture) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, as the Guest of Honour. In her speech, she emphasized that UNESCO’s recognition of pantun is a significant achievement, reflecting the strength of Malay oral heritage as a platform of knowledge, values, and cultural identity. She further highlighted the importance of sustaining efforts to preserve pantun through education, community involvement, and institutional support.
The program began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat, followed by the Guest of Honour’s visit to the Mini Pantun Exhibition. The exhibition showcased the historical background, diverse forms, social functions, and the evolution of pantun within both traditional and contemporary contexts. The ceremony was further enlivened by cultural performances inspired by pantun, featuring traditional songs, children’s songs, bermukun (a Bruneian performance art), and traditional dances.
The organization of this ceremony reflects the Government of Brunei Darussalam’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding and strengthening intangible cultural heritage in line with the aspirations of Brunei Vision 2035, particularly in reinforcing national identity, cultural continuity, and values rooted in the philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja).
