langkawi magazine

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Malaysian Batik Set to Dazzle LID Delegates

From stamping to stencil techniques, Malaysian batik has improved by leaps and bounce in the way it is produced through improved technology.

Hence, its conception from everyday wear has changed to high fashion and furnishing.

Although batik, a generic term referring to the process of dyeing fabric using resist technique, may have been popular in Indonesia and some African countries, Malaysian batik has its own specialities which may interest delegates to the Global 2004 Langkawi International Dialogue (LID).

Coordinator of the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) and London-based Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management (CPTM) Hub Tan Sri Dr Omar Abdul Rahman said a showcase of Malaysian batik development would be held at this year"s LID which starts today.

“It is not to promote batik but to show the development of the batik industry from an everyday low-cost wear to high fashion. Its growth is also based on technology,” he said. Dr Omar said the showcase is also in keeping with the interest of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi"s wife, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, who is taking the batik industry a step further and “we want to support them.”

The Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation has taken the responsibility to showcase the batik evolution at the Global 2004 Smart Partners in Business, Investment and Trade Exhibition and Art and Culture Gallery at Pelangi Beach Resort and Spa, the LID venue.

At the showcase, foreigners can observe the various types of batik, its intricacies and innovations in production, which have seen batik moving away from its previous focus of being produced on silk to other different materials, such as chiffon.

Besides creating awareness for batik and what Malaysia has to offer, it is hoped the gallery set up at the LID will enable the corporation to foster better relations with African countries.

Dr Omar said the showcase at Pelangi would also accommodate participating countries which want to show off business opportunities through display of banners and distribution of brochures.

“The art and culture showcase was triggered off when we went to Uganda. One of the key persons in Uganda happen to be an artist. He pointed out that art and culture can also be a focal point for this exchanging of smart partnership ideas. So, that"s how it evolved,” he said.

Meanwhile, local batik entrepreneurs are looking forward to the event to promote their batik designs and products apart from increasing sales during the three-day dialogue.

Atma Alam Batik Art Village owner Roshadah Yusof said although foreigners from Arab countries, China and Europe have been flocking to her “batik village” of late, seeing more guests, particularly from African nations, would be much welcome.

“I use to share ideas with my foreign customers who come to my place and hopefully, participants of the LID will take the opportunity to come here as I hope to share ideas with them too,” she said.

Her husband, Azahari Khalid Awang Osman, or better known as Aza, chipped in to say that batik has become a very central means of artistic expression for many of the areas in Asia and a deeply integrated facet of Asian culture.

“The Langkawi surroundings provide lots of inspirations to my wife to produce her batik works. Besides that, we also visit many international trade shows worldwide to have a glimpse of what"s the latest and perhaps improve on our own batik products and handicraft,” added Aza, himself an oil painter.

Langkawi 30/07/2004