BERLIN (AFP) – When Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that injury would prevent him taking part in this year’s French Open for the first time in 19 years, it triggered bitter sweet memories for Lars Burgsmuller, his first ever opponent at Roland Garros.
Back in 2005, when Nadal’s remarkable 14 titles on the Parisian clay were still in the future, the German faced the Mallorca native in the first round.
Burgsmuller, then aged 29 and the world number 96, lost 6-1, 7-6, 6-1, but pushed 18-year-old Nadal to a tiebreak in the second set.
The German, who had already played Nadal the year before at Indian Wells when he was just 17, losing 6-2, 6-3, told AFP he “was not so enthusiastic” when he found out who he would face.
“Let’s just say I’d heard from all sides that he was the next big thing,” Burgsmuller, 47, said from his home in Essen, where he now works as a radiologist.
“Of course, at such a big tournament you hope for an easier draw, especially at the beginning.
Rafael Nadal. PHOTO: AFP
“At the moment when I lost the match, you can see why I wasn’t so excited.”
The German said that while he was disappointed with the outcome at the time, he realised he was witnessing something special in the making.
“You have to acknowledge without any envy that he just somehow plays in another league,” Burgsmuller said.
He counts the memory alongside his matches against Roger Federer and his Wimbledon clash with Andre Agassi as career highlights, alongside his win at the ATP event in Copenhagen 2002.
In the 17 years since their meeting, Nadal has amassed those record 14 French Open titles and lost only three of 115 matches.
Although he was convinced of the Spaniard’s talent, he admits to being surprised Nadal went on to win the tournament at his first attempt.
“I felt that he was playing well and would have a great future, but that he would go from 0 to 100 so quickly and win the French Open, I honestly did not expect that.
“I don’t know if he expected it himself or if anyone else did.”
Burgsmuller said Nadal gave “full throttle” from start to finish in their match.
“It makes no difference whether it’s 0:0 or later on… he plays the first ball just like the last ball.
“You have the feeling you have to win every rally three times to get the point.
“I caught myself in moments where I thought ‘Okay, I’ve got the point’, and then somehow he gets it past you – and it really hurts you.
“That’s his strength, even from difficult situations from the corners to somehow hit fantastic balls anywhere on the court.”
Nadal’s powerful game has carried him to a record 22 Grand Slam titles, equal with Novak Djokovic, but it has also taken a punishing toll on his body.
The Spaniard told reporters on Thursday his inability to recover from a hip injury in time for the French Open was “not a decision I made, it’s a decision my body made”.
An attorney representing a family of a student killed in the Paris terrorist attacks speak outside the United States Supreme Court. PHOTO: AP
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States (US) Supreme Court handed a victory to Twitter and Google on Thursday, saying the social media giants could not be held liable by victims of terrorist attacks for posts that endorsed the Islamic State (IS) group.
Crucially, the cases that targetted Google-owned YouTube and Twitter were seen as potential challenges to decades-old legal protections for tech companies.
The justices declined to wade into the debate, indicating that the cases fall outside the scope of the law because the platforms did not in any case “aid and abet” IS terror attacks by hosting postings supportive of the extremist group.
A law known as Section 230 gives internet platforms blanket immunity from any legal fallout of content that comes from a third party, even if it is pushed out as a recommendation by the website.
Section 230, which became law in 1996, is credited with allowing the no-holds-barred expansion of the Internet but has increasingly been seen as helping cause the harmful effects of social media on society.
An attorney representing a family of a student killed in the Paris terrorist attacks speak outside the United States Supreme Court. PHOTO: AP
Without it, websites would potentially be open to lawsuits for content posted by users, making the free-wheeling discussions seen on social media subject to much stricter moderation.
A bitterly divided US Congress has failed to update the rules, and many US states are passing their own laws to make platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok more responsible for content.
“Enough is enough… Congress must step in, reform Section 230, and remove platforms’ blanket immunity from liability,” said influential Democratic Senator Dick Durbin after the ruling.
DECLINE TO ADDRESS
The justices of the Supreme Court largely evaded the question. They said that the allegations against YouTube and Twitter did not amount to a liable infraction and therefore the debate over section 230 was not pertinent.
“We therefore decline to address the application of Section 230 (in a case) that appears to state little, if any, plausible claim for relief,” they said.
The justices however gave no indication on how they could potentially address the immunity issue in the future, nor were their stances on the matter made clear at hearings in February.
Google welcomed the result.
“Countless companies, scholars, content creators and civil society organisations who joined with us in this case will be reassured by this result,” said Google’s general counsel Halimah DeLaine Prado.
An association representing US tech companies said the decision was good news.
“The Court correctly recognised the narrow posture of these cases and declined to rewrite a key tenet of US Internet law, preserving free expression online and a thriving digital economy,” said Head of the Computer and Communications Industry Association Matt Schruers.
FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
The first of the two cases involved a US victim of the 2015 Paris attacks, claimed by the IS group.
The other case was brought by the family of a victim of a 2017 attack by the group on an Istanbul club.
The family alleged that Twitter’s failure to take down and stop recommending IS tweets constituted aiding an act of terror.
The Supreme Court declines to hear the vast majority of the cases that come its way, and experts had predicted that by opting to decide on this one justices could be willing to modify the increasingly contested landmark law.
But in the hearings, the justices largely expressed doubts that the case would be fit to begin a debate about reworking Section 230.
Newcastle United’s Dan Burn scores against Brighton and Hove Albion. PHOTO: AP
LONDON (AFP) – Callum Wilson scored late on and then laid on another goal as Newcastle won 4-1 at home to Brighton on Thursday to move within sight of Champions League qualification.
Kieran Trippier’s dead-ball skills paved the way for Newcastle to go 2-0 up before half-time at St James’ Park, his crosses leading to an own-goal from Deniz Undav and a headed goal by Dan Burn.
Undav, however, pulled a goal back for Brighton early in the second half.
But with the Seagulls pushing for an equaliser, Wilson scored on the counter-attack a minute from full-time before setting up Bruno Guimaraes as the Magpies made it 4-1.
Victory left Newcastle third in the Premier League table and needing just one win from their remaining two league games this season, at home to Leicester on Monday and away to Chelsea, to secure a place among Europe’s elite.
And they will be assured of a top-four finish without having to kick a ball if Liverpool lose to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Newcastle United’s Dan Burn scores against Brighton and Hove Albion. PHOTO: AP
Brighton remained sixth despite this defeat and still in contention for Europa League football next season.
“I think we were excellent in the first half,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe told the BBC.
“A really strong performance, probably kicking ourselves we didn’t take some of the chances.”
As for the prospect of Champions League football, he added: “Yeah (we are close), but it is still so far away. We will enjoy tonight, but then turn our focus towards Leicester.
“I think we were just pleased with the performance tonight, to beat a side of their quality. We are not looking too far ahead.”
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, fresh from the Seagulls’ impressive 3-0 win at Arsenal, had no complaints about this result.
“We deserved to lose the game,” he said. “I don’t want to make any excuses. We conceded two goals in two set-pieces but we didn’t play well.”
Howe fielded the same starting XI that featured in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Leeds with injured duo Sean Longstaff and Jacob Murphy again missing from the squad.
By contrast, De Zerbi made four changes to the team which ran out for Sunday’s superb success at Arsenal with Jan Paul van Hecke, Facundo Buonanotte, Undav and Danny Welbeck replacing Levi Colwill, Alexis Mac Allister, Julio Enciso and Evan Ferguson respectively.
Newcastle’s early dominance was rewarded in the 23rd minute when Undav glanced a header into his own net trying to clear Trippier’s excellent inswinging corner.
And the northeast side doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time when Burn rose above the Brighton defence to head in from a Trippier free-kick.
Saudi-backed Newcastle had a chance to put the result beyond doubt five minutes after the break but Miguel Almiron’s shot from point-blank range was saved superbly by Jason Steele.
Barely a minute later, south coast side Brighton hit back when Undav ran onto Billy Gilmour’s through-ball before beating England keeper Nick Pope.
Newcastle, however, had the final say with Wilson’s 18th league goal this season, the most by a Newcastle player since 2003/04 when Alan Shearer scored 22 goals, crowning a rapid counter-attack in the 89th minute.
Wilson then turned provider in stoppage time, unselfishly squaring the ball for Bruno to spark joyous celebrations among the Newcastle faithful.
United States (US) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks to the media in Washington DC, US; and US President Joe Biden with other world leaders at the G7 Summit in Japan. PHOTOS: AFP
HIROSHIMA (AFP) – “Steady progress” is being made in talks on raising the United States (US) debt ceiling while US President Joe Biden is in Japan for the G7 summit, a White House official said yesterday.
The US government is expecting to hit the legal borrowing limit by as soon as June 1 – raising the possibility of the world’s largest economy defaulting on debt repayments for the first time.
A default on the country’s USD31.8 trillion debt would unleash turmoil for global markets if an agreement is not reached between Democrats and Republicans, who are demanding deep spending cuts before the debt limit can be raised.
Biden “requested and received an update this morning from his designated negotiating team” informing him that “steady progress is being made”, the official said.
“The president directed his team to continue pressing forward for a bipartisan agreement,” they added.
United States (US) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks to the media in Washington DC, US; and US President Joe Biden with other world leaders at the G7 Summit in Japan. PHOTOS: AFP
“He remains confident that Congress will take necessary action to avoid default.”
On Thursday, top US Republican Kevin McCarthy said he saw “the path” to a breakthrough in talks to avert a default, despite signals from his party’s hard right that they would not soften their spending-cut demands.
“We’re not there – we haven’t agreed to anything yet – but I see the path (where) we could come to an agreement,” the House speaker said in his most upbeat assessment yet of the high-stakes standoff between Republicans in Congress and Biden. “I think we have the structure now and everybody’s working hard.”
Democrats point out that the debt limit has been raised dozens of times without budget negotiations, and accuse the Republicans of holding the US economy “hostage”.
Congressional leaders have held two rounds of talks with Biden, but time is running out for legislation to move through Congress before the coffers run dry.
Any deal would need to pass the Republican-led House and the Senate ahead of the deadline.
SEVILLE (AFP) – Erik Lamela propelled Europa League specialists Sevilla into the final once again with a 2-1 victory over Juventus on Thursday, sealing a 3-2 aggregate triumph in a gripping clash.
Lamela headed home in extra-time to complete an impressive comeback for the record six-time winners of the competition, who will face Jose Mourinho’s Roma in Budapest on May 31 after they edged past Bayer Leverkusen.
Dusan Vlahovic fired visitors Juventus ahead in the second half, two minutes after coming on as a substitute, but Suso smashed home from outside the area to take the game to extra-time.
Lamela connected perfectly with Bryan Gil’s cross in the 95th minute to delight the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, and Sevilla held on to reach the final for the first time since 2020.
“A lot of things went through my head, good moments, bad moments. It was a unique moment,” Lamela told Movistar.
Sevilla’s Erik Lamela. PHOTO: AFP
“Now we are a step away, it’s a great opportunity. It’s a night I will remember forever, it’s something incredible to play here, in front of all these fans.”
Juventus failed to set up an all-Italian final against Roma, but Italy still has with one representative in each of the three European finals.
Inter Milan reached the Champions League showdown against Manchester City by seeing off rivals AC Milan on Tuesday, while on Thursday Fiorentina beat Basel to reach the Conference League final where they will face West Ham.
Defeat is concerning for Juventus, who are second in Serie A but braced for a potential points deduction which could knock them out of the top four. Winning the Europa League would have been an alternative route to Champions League qualification.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side, without the injured Paul Pogba, were significantly better than in the first leg but fell short.
“You have to put them in the back of the net when you have the chances,” Allegri said.
“The boys played a good game, but it was a European semi-final, we had to give a little more.”
He said his young Juventus side paid the price for their lack of experience compared to Sevilla.
“It’s a team that lacks experience at international level, these are physical matches, which require a lot,” he added.
Sevilla, who dominated in Turin but were pegged back at the death in the 1-1 draw, shaded the first half but Juventus threatened on the counter.
Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny produced a superb save to claw out a Lucas Ocampos header at his near post.
At the other end his counterpart Yassine Bounou produced an equally strong fingertip stop to tip a Moise Kean effort onto the post.
Sevilla were fuming before half-time when Juan Cuadrado sliced down Oliver Torres and no penalty was awarded by VAR, despite replays indicating the foul began in the area.
Gleison Bremer’s header scraped the post as the Italians pushed harder to break the deadlock in the second half.
Substitute Vlahovic made Juventus’ pressure count as he burst away from two Sevilla defenders and dinked the ball past Bounou.
However Sevilla substitute Suso levelled from outside the area, carving out some space before launching a rocket into the top corner.
Traders at an area known for diamond trading in Surat, India. PHOTO: AFP
NEW DELHI (AFP) – The prospect of fresh G7 sanctions on Russia’s diamond trade weighs heavy on India’s diamond hub of Surat, already reeling from supply cuts and falling demand.
Some 90 per cent of the world’s diamonds are cut and polished in the bustling port.
A world away from the glamourous boutiques of New York or Tokyo, hundreds of thousands of craftsmen sweat over gemstones in around 4,000 workshops in the city, cutting and setting them into sparkling jewellery.
In total around a million people, including dealers and suppliers, are involved in the industry in Gujarat, India’s westernmost state.
Russian mining giants such as Alrosa traditionally accounted for over a third of India’s rough diamonds.
But supplies have shrunk in the months since Western sanctions cut Russia off from the SWIFT international payments network in March last year.
Traders at an area known for diamond trading in Surat, India. PHOTO: AFP
At the same time, Indian exports of cut and polished diamonds have slumped with United States and European firms refusing to buy diamonds sourced from Russia.
Leaders of the G7 countries meeting in Hiroshima in Japan yesterday pledged to restrict trade in Russian diamonds – worth USD4-5 billion a year – including using high-tech methods of tracing.
Britain went further and announced it would introduce an outright ban on Russian diamonds.
President of the Diamond Workers Union Gujarat Rameshbhai Zilriya said fresh sanctions would sound the death knell for the industry.
“Workers are already suffering because of Russian supply issues and a drop in demand.
There have been widespread job losses and this problem will only get exacerbated now,” he told AFP.
“In the last 15 days eight workers have killed themselves. Now the situation will only become worse.”
The diamond industry’s most lucrative customers are Western firms required to comply with sanctions regimes. Traders say the likes of Signet, Tiffany & Co, Chopard and Pandora are refusing to buy Russian stones.
Indian exports of cut and polished diamonds stood at USD1.32 billion in April, data from The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) shows – a slump of 39 per cent, or more than USD800 million, on a year earlier.
GJEPC chairman Vipul Shah said the industry would wait and watch what kinds of sanctions are imposed on Russian diamonds.
“Russia is one of our largest suppliers… Supply is going to be a constraint and we will be facing a big problem,” he said. The “immediate issue is of employment”, he added.
BARCELONA (AFP) – Valencia are hoping to take advantage of a shell-shocked Real Madrid tomorrow at Mestalla to earn vital points in their La Liga survival bid.
Los Che won last weekend at Celta Vigo with a last-gasp winner while their relegation rivals Espanyol, Getafe, Real Valladolid, Cadiz and Almeria all lost.
It left them 14th, three points clear of the drop zone with four matches remaining, as they head into a crucial clash with last season’s champions.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid travel to Spain’s east coast on the back of a painful thrashing by Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals, a week after rivals Barcelona ripped the La Liga title out of their hands.
Valencia will hope Madrid arrive a broken team, desperate for the season to end, rather than aiming to make a point and play for their pride as Dani Carvajal threatened on Wednesday.
“There are still games to go, we want to finish as high as possible (and) respect opponents who still have a lot on the line,” Carvajal told Movistar in the wake of City’s triumph.
“We’ll judge our season on June 4.”
However, Madrid looked lost at the Etihad Stadium, with veteran midfielders Luka Modric and Toni Kroos over-run, Karim Benzema uninvolved, wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo isolated.
Defender Eder Militao scored an own goal, continuing his bad run of form, while Eduardo Camavinga was exposed out of position at left-back, undoing his progress there.
Ruben Baraja’s Valencia have plenty of talented attackers who can try to take advantage of Madrid’s defensive woes, including on-loan Atletico Madrid winger Samuel Lino.
The Brazilian has become crucial for Los Che, with three goals in his last five La Liga games.
“We never thought we couldn’t achieve salvation,” Lino told DAZN earlier this week.
“We’ve always had a strong mentality, we’ve had very tough defeats and we’ve always thought keeping working, that everything is going to work out.
“Nothing is done, but we have to continue working and give everything we have to stay in the top flight.”
Both Lino and striker Justin Kluivert, on loan from Roma, have both said they are open to staying at Valencia next season if possible.
But first they need to keep the six-time champions in La Liga.
Valencia were the last team outside of Spain’s big three to lift the title, triumphing in 2004, before Barcelona, Madrid and later Atletico, monopolised domestic glory.
The lowest they have finished in the top flight since promotion in 1987 was 14th, the following year.
Madrid, second, are 14 points behind newly-crowned champions Barcelona and two ahead of rivals Atletico Madrid, third, who host Osasuna tomorrow.
Winners of the promotion in a group photo. PHOTO: BAIDURI BANK
Baiduri Bank, in collaboration with Samima Sdn Bhd, announced the winners of their ‘Spend and Get Rewarded’ promotion at a prize presentation ceremony yesterday at the Baiduri headquarters.
Baiduri cardholders stood a chance to win cashbacks of up to BND500 and gift vouchers worth up to BND100 when they spent at Samima from January 1 until March 31.
Additionally, seven winners each received a Samima Gift Voucher worth BND100 and another 10 each received a consolation prize of Samima Gift Voucher worth BND30.
“We are delighted to see our customers enjoying the rewards of our promotions,” said Baiduri Bank’s Head of Retail Banking Lim Kian Chiong.
“Our campaigns are designed with the needs and preferences of our customers in mind. We hope the collaboration with Samima brought some extra joy to parents who were shopping for their children’s back-to-school supplies.”
Winners of the promotion in a group photo. PHOTO: BAIDURI BANK
ABOVE & BELOW: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam braves the rain while being greeted by the people during a get together in the Belait District; and His Majesty seen riding a jetski.
PHOTOS: KHAYR ZAKARIYYA
Khayr Zakariyya
In today’s fast-paced world, news travel at lightning speed. From breaking news to in-depth features, we are bombarded with information from all corners of the globe. But while words can be powerful, there is also something uniquely compelling about a photograph. A single image can convey a wealth of emotion and information, telling a story in a way that words alone cannot. This is the power of photojournalism.
As a photojournalist based in Brunei Darussalam who has been capturing the stories of the community and region for over a decade, my work has been featured in local and foreign publications, including the Bulletin, The Guardian, The New York Times and other international newspapers.
Born and raised in the Sultanate, I always had a passion for photography. I was lucky enough to have laser-focus from a young age. This, combined with strong devotion, led to my success in the fiercely competitive photojournalism market. My passion for the art was born during my freshman year of college by just taking photos of people using a mobile camera. What really drew me in were the people and the stories they had to share.
Today, photojournalism is still an essential part of journalism, but it faces new challenges in the digital age. With the rise of social media and citizen journalism, anyone with a smartphone can capture and share images of breaking news events. This has created a new level of competition for professional photojournalists, who must work harder than ever to capture unique and compelling images.
Photojournalism is the art of telling stories through photographs. It is a form of journalism that relies on visual imagery to convey news, events, and human interest stories.
Photojournalists are tasked with capturing the world around them, documenting everything from breaking news events to the daily lives of people in their communities.
ABOVE & BELOW: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam braves the rain while being greeted by the people during a get together in the Belait District; and His Majesty seen riding a jetski. PHOTOS: KHAYR ZAKARIYYA
A scenic view of the beautiful landmark in the SultanateABOVE & BELOW: A survivor of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines; and the photojournalist covering one of the deadliest typhoons recorded
Their images are used in newspapers, magazines, and online publications to inform and engage readers.
But photojournalism is not just about capturing dramatic images of breaking news. It is also about telling the stories of everyday people in a way that is relatable and engaging.
Photojournalists often work on long-term projects that document the lives of people in their communities, shining a light on issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.
These projects can take months or even years to complete, but they are essential for giving a voice to marginalised communities and shedding light on important social issues.
Despite these challenges, photojournalism remains a vital part of the media landscape. A single photograph can capture the attention of millions of people, conveying a message that words alone cannot.
Whether it is a powerful image of a political protest, a moving portrait of a refugee, or a dramatic shot of a natural disaster, photojournalism has the power to move us and make us think.
Among my most notable work was my coverage in 2013 of the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, which was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded in the Philippines. I went there alone to document the impact of the most powerful cyclone ever recorded because I wanted to learn how other professional photographers covered the natural disaster and also, to gain more experience covering international news.
The project was featured in the Bulletin and earned me recognition as a rising talent in photojournalism.
The people who give me motivation, moral support and creativity are my wife and family. They encourage me to be more adventurous and creative in my work.
For me, the most rewarding aspect of photojournalism is the ability to tell stories that might otherwise go untold.
As a photojournalist, my role is to bring attention to the people and issues that are often overlooked. Through my images, I hope to give a voice to those who might not have one.
But photojournalism is not without its challenges. One of the biggest obstacles can be the resources and support required to cover important stories that involve extensive travel and time.
Another challenging aspect of photojournalism is the need for accuracy and objectivity. Unlike other forms of photography, photojournalism is not about artistic expression or personal vision. It is about documenting the world as it is, without bias or manipulation.
Photojournalists must adhere to strict ethical standards, avoiding any actions that could alter the truth of their images.
An additional challenge facing photojournalism today is the need to adapt to new technologies and changing media landscapes. With the rise of social media and online news sources, photojournalists must be able to work quickly and efficiently to produce images that can be shared across multiple platforms. They must also be skilled at editing and curating their images, selecting the most compelling shots to tell a cohesive and impactful story.
Despite these challenges, I remain committed to my work, driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to make a difference. For me, photojournalism is not just a job, it’s a calling.
I believe that through my images, I can help to bring about positive change in my community and country.
Looking to the future, I’m very optimistic about the role that photojournalism will continue to play in the media landscape.
In a world where information is so readily available, it’s more important than ever to have visual storytellers who can capture the complexity and nuances of the world around us.
I believe that photojournalism will always have a place in the media, and I’m excited to see where it will take us in the years to come.
A woman looks at kebaya on display at the National Museum in Singapore. PHOTO: AFP
James Kon
Brunei through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) together with Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand agreed to jointly submit a multinational nomination of the kebaya to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) under the category of representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for 2023.
According to the MCYS, this is the first time that the Sultanate has forwarded a nomination and also the first with the other four countries. The countries involved have discussed and agreed for the joint multinational nomination of kebaya after considering that it is a common heritage practiced in the countries of the Southeast Asian region.
Kebaya also represents and celebrates the richness of common heritage, encouraging cross-cultural understanding so that it continues to be practiced by numerous communities throughout Southeast Asia.
The nomination of kebaya was proposed and led by Malaysia and from discussions as part of a series of work meetings between Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore ,Thailand and Indonesia.
Several discussions and meetings were carried out by the respective agencies and the cultural elite as representatives of seven ethics groups to gain community support, which is one of the criteria that must be fulfilled for the nomination.
Following the agreement, a workshop was held from November 1 to 3, 2022 at Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia to prepare a nomination dossier for UNESCO by representatives of the countries involved.
A woman looks at kebaya on display at the National Museum in Singapore. PHOTO: AFPWomen dressed in kebaya during a march-past. PHOTO: MCYS
The involved countries welcomed participation of others in the region to join in the nomination.
UNESCO under its 2003 convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage emphasises joint nominations to make culture a platform for mutual understanding and dialogue, making the listing process an opportunity for strategic cooperation at the international level.
WHY KEBAYA: KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, TRADITIONS AND PRACTICES?
The knowledge, skills, traditions and practices related to kebaya is associated with women of all ages, background and religions from various communities in Southeast Asia.
Kebaya meets the definition of an ICH element as it involves the traditional craftsmanship skills (embroidery and sewing techniques) for making the traditional women’s garment.
It is also a garment that represents a significant part of the cultural heritage and identity of the Malay, peranakan and other communities in Southeast Asia.
Kebaya is also associated with other forms of cultural heritage, such as festive occasions and weddings. There is an active community of makers and wearers of kebaya who share and transmit the knowledge and socio-cultural value of kebaya from one generation to another.
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have jointly submitted the multinational nomination for kebaya as it represents and celebrates rich shared history, promotes cross-cultural understanding, and continues to be present and actively practiced by communities across Southeast Asia.
The results would be decided during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024.
HOW DID THE IDEA FOR A MULTINATIONAL NOMINATION OF KEBAYA COME ABOUT?
The idea for the multinational nomination of kebaya was led by Malaysia and discussed as part of a series of working meetings between Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
The countries agreed to work on the multinational nomination of kebaya, given that it is a shared heritage found across various Southeast Asian countries, and presents an opportunity to promote and celebrate the shared cultural heritage found in the region.
Meetings have been held among the participating countries since early 2022 to discuss the possibility of working together on the multinational nomination.
Two workshops involving government officials, kebaya practitioners and experts from all participating countries were hosted by Malaysia in November 2022 and Indonesia in February 2023.
Subsequently, an online workshop led by Singapore to finalise the nomination forms was held in March 2023.
