From Shuhaida Mohd Said
BANDUNG, Sept 14 (Bernama) — The Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, has called for strategic measures to ensure the continuity and advancement of the batik industry in the region.
His Royal Highness said the batik industry is facing various challenges, including environmental sustainability issues, product counterfeiting, a lack of successors among the younger generation, and stiff global competition.
“The value chain in the batik industry must be strengthened. From small artisans to large-scale industry players, all parties should receive support through incubation programmes, e-commerce platforms, quality certification and copyright protection to ensure the sustainability of authentic products.
“Creative tourism can also be developed through initiatives such as the ‘Batik Trails Nusantara’, which links heritage towns and cities in Malaysia and Indonesia.
“This initiative can bring together experiences of batik workshops, art galleries, local homestays and regional culinary delights to attract tourists and strengthen the local economy,” he said.
Tuanku Syed Faizuddin said this after witnessing the batik-making process at Batik Komar here, in conjunction with Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) International Leadership Mobility 2025. Also present was the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil, who is UniMAP Pro-Chancellor.
His Royal Highness said batik in Malaysia has developed into a national identity, and Perlis is equally committed to elevating it. Through UniMAP, the Chancellor sees great potential for batik to be not only preserved as heritage but also harnessed as a source of innovation, economic growth and cultural diplomacy.
“Close collaboration between universities and industry must be strengthened. UniMAP should be ready to forge cooperation with institutions in Indonesia and Malaysia in areas such as research on natural dyes, green textile technology and more sustainable batik design innovation.
“In addition, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) must also be strengthened through student and lecturer exchanges, cross-border apprenticeship programmes and the development of modules for transferring modern batik-making skills relevant to today’s needs,” he said.
Tuanku Syed Faizuddin added that the visit is expected to be a catalyst for collaborations that will benefit not only Malaysia and Indonesia but also the world, as an example of how heritage can progress in tandem with innovation.
His Royal Highness also expressed hope that the ‘Nusantara Batik Sharing Initiative’ can be realised, with UniMAP as an academic and research bridge and Perlis as a regional hub for batik innovation.
The Raja Muda of Perlis reminded the younger generation to regard batik not merely as clothing but as a language of identity, a root of history and a symbol of national pride.
— BERNAMA
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
