MELAKA: An application to declare the Portuguese Settlement's Festa San Pedro as a national living cultural heritage will be submitted soon, says Khoo Poay Tiong.
The Kota Melaka MP said that the application would be submitted to the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to ensure that the history, culture, identity and spirit of the festival remains intact for future generations.
"This is also to highlight the distinct cultural characteristics and historical background of the festival," he said after attending the festival at the Settlement at Ujong Pasir here on Thursday(June 29).
Khoo said documents for the listing have been completed and are now waiting to be submitted to stakeholders.
He added that the listing would also ensure that the Settlement preserves the cultural heritage unique to the community.
Khoo said the festival highlights the traditional significance of the fishing trade of the coastal community, saying that it once had a vast seafront that has been affected by land reclamation.
He added that the reclamation has increasingly threatened livelihoods of fishermen at the Settlement and may lead to the festival's erosion if nothing is done to preserve it.
