Songket cloth has been designated by the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as an intangible world cultural heritage of the country of Malaysia. Responding to this, the Governor of South Sumatra, Herman Deru, said that songket cloth has long been known as the cultural wealth of the people of South Sumatra, especially Palembang. As a regional head, he actually wanted to file a complaint. Given, South Sumatra is also rich in songket which has been known for a long time. "But this is already the realm of authority from the central government. Hope South Sumatra, at the ministry level there are also complaints. We are not from the region (provincial government), because this songket is an asset owned by this country," said Deru

He hopes that the Ministry in charge of assets, including textile objects such as songket, can respond.

"If it is permitted at the provincial level to complain, we will complain. Since this is an inter-state affair, not a province, the state will take care of it," he continued.

He also promised that the provincial government would follow up the "complaint" process, because the greater authority lies at the level of the central government.

"Because for foreign affairs the governor is not allowed," he concluded.

UNESCO has designated the Malaysian songket as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This determination was made during the 16th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paris, France, last Wednesday (15/12/2021).

The Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) said the determination was decided by a committee of 24 member countries of the 2003 Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Songket Malaysia was registered with UNESCO last year.

MOTAC through the Department of National Heritage nominated songket in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage