Batik cap, or metal stamp batik, was especially popular in the 1970s (Photo: Intan Ruhanida Ramli/ Securities Commission Malaysia)
Considered a generic term for using wax, dye or metal stamps to pattern cloth, batik (a portmanteau of amba, Javanese for “to draw”, and titik, Malay for “dot”) has in fact been a popular method to decorate textiles across the globe, having been used historically from West Africa to Indonesia.
Our national iteration of the fabric is characterised by highly regional motifs: vibrant colours, free-flowing designs and energetic floral themes that highlight distinctly local imagery, such as pucuk rebung (bamboo shoot) or state flowers like Negeri Sembilan’s bunga lada (pepper flower), and the use of intricately foliated stamps reflect the post-independence aesthetic inclinations that have become key traits of Malaysian batik.
Following its introduction to the nation resulting from latent trade, batik burgeoned along the east coast of the peninsula in the 1930s before fully flourishing 40 years later due to government support and popularity among young designers. Whether as luxurious garments, tourist trinkets or school projects, the art remains deeply coded in the identity of our country.
Tapping this profundity, the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and government-linked investment company MyCreative Ventures (MyCV) have unveiled their joint Batik Lestari initiative, which aims to profile the Malaysian batik industry in the context of its economic value while raising awareness and promoting sustainable practices.
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SC managing director Datin Azalina Adham explains that the project coincides with Malaysia’s assumption of the Asean chairmanship in 2025 as well as the SC’s chairing of the Asean Capital Market Forum. “Alongside the position we will be taking, one of the thoughts we had was to include the creative industry in a collaboration with the capital market industry — which is not a usual combination! That was the genesis of our thinking, to try and see if these two sectors could come together. We picked [MyCV] as our partner because they are experts on the creative side.”
Batik Lestari was therefore coined in December 2023 to showcase and promote the traditional art form with specific regard to the financial and economic track, as a thematic angle for the country’s upcoming global leadership roles that would be culturally rich while offering substantial depth, colour and intrigue. Given that the regulator unveiled its MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) and MTC (mid-tier companies) road map in May this year, and that the batik industry largely comprises SMEs, Azalina frames this project as a timely convergence that enables it to create capital and rally investors to raise money for such companies, on top of supporting and promoting the field on the global stage.
“For the longest time, the industry has yearned for something like this, so it is very welcome,” enthuses MyCV group CEO Zainariah Johari. “Many were calling us saying what an amazing opportunity it is to have their work seen, known and acknowledged by corporate captains, and with the SC leading it, many were in disbelief.”
MyCV principally concerns itself with providing tools and mechanisms for funding to investable and bankable creative players, which made this partnership a dream come true for Zainariah, who flags the struggle of creatives to secure recognition and financial support. They hope this joining of hands at such an elevated degree will yield mutual benefit as the SC and its regulated companies seek to formulate an ecosystem where financial support can be made accessible to artisans, and MyCV’s exhibitors can leverage the status of the organisations supporting them when presenting their work at a higher level.
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For now, Azalina and Zainariah are setting their sights on the monumental first steps of bringing corporations’ attentions to the socioeconomic viability of Malaysian batik, which they are achieving through the Batik Lestari Competition — a design contest that accepted over 80 entries from Sept 16 to Oct 31. Submissions were composed of a digital component for completed garment designs, in addition to an actual fabric sample, and judged on factors such as colour, cultural authenticity and the use of Malaysian motifs by a panel of academicians, entrepreneurs and fashion experts.
Twenty finalists are set to be shortlisted, with winners receiving cash prizes totalling RM55,000 for the top three spots as well as a trophy each. There will also be five consolation prizes and two special awards for entrants who have embarked on sustainable practices in batik making. The winning works will be announced and paraded at the Malam Batik Lestari event on Dec 5 at the SC headquarters in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur. Accompanying the dinner will be the Batik Lestari Festival, which will feature an exhibition, film screening, workshops and a curated retail market including several local brands.
As the field continues to evolve, the two representatives note that Malaysian batik has the potential to stand for something more, and they hope to contribute to the development of its narrative. “Maybe the proposition for Malaysia is to have beautiful and sustainable batik, which does no harm and uses no child labour. That’s what we would like to infuse beyond awareness, which is the primary thrust,” notes Azalina on the social, economic and environmental sustainability Batik Lestari wishes to encourage artisans to strive towards. Apart from pursuing eco-conscious methods such as using natural dyes as much as possible, business longevity is critical to ensuring that future generations of artisans can continue to uphold this element of national heritage.
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While the issue of introducing commercialisation to scale up production without compromising on tradition or authenticity remains a gargantuan challenge, the two leaders express that garnering awareness and chatter within the creative and corporate communities is instrumental to provoking greater innovation and problem-solving. “The Batik Lestari brand is young, but it should stay on, whether it culminates in an annual batik night or a sustainable logo, so that we can push the conversation,” affirms Azalina.
Echoing this sentiment, Zainariah says, “[Batik Lestari] hopes to direct attention towards the manpower, time and intricacy behind the production of these pieces, for appreciation and fairer valuation. It doesn’t get any bigger than this, and we need to seize this opportunity and do right by it to hopefully get interest from other corporate captains.”
The Batik Lestari Festival will take place on Dec 5 and 6 from 10am to 6pm at the Securities Commission Malaysia in Bukit Kiara, KL. Admission is free.
This article first appeared on Dec 2, 2024 in The Edge Malaysia.
