East Coast: the birthplace of batik in Malaysia

The East Coast of Malaysia is where Batiks were first introduced to this country and where most batiks are still made. Brought over by “utamak” (religious teachers) from nearby Indonesia, the influence of their neighboring country can still be seen today.  The batiks from Pekalangon especially attracted the people of Terengganu, the first city to encounter this material. Pekalangon floral and fauna motifs thus became the common theme in all Malaysian batik. The difference however is the absence of animals and insects in Malaysian designs whose Islamic religion forbids the depiction of such creatures.  Thus, those images disappeared and leaving only the flowers which appear prominently in the central panel or “kepala kain” of the sarong.

In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, the new technique of batik chanting was introduced and it was well accepted by the people until it was overshadowed the popularity of batik block.

With the introduction of the batik Tjanting technique, the designers were no longer limited to Indonesia design block or motifs and began to create their own version of Malaysian flower motifs.

The popularity of batik chanting continued until 1990’s but then started to decline. The lack of skill and creativity of common craftsmen caused consumers to loose interest and look toward more contemporary Korean or Italian silks. 

Contemporary styles created by designers in large cities like Kuala Lumpur have helped Malaysian batik make a comeback in the fashion industry. The manufacture of the fabrics however is still based here on the East coast, continuing the long tradition of wax and dye in this region.