Malaysia is like batik

Country’s multiculturalism is like the intricate, delicate designs of the fabric

TIME and again, we are reminded of our uniqueness as Malaysians. We embrace the Spirit of Malaysia with God-given qualities like no other. Each one of us is equipped with wisdom, discretion, kindness and compassion that are honed from our years of living side by side with people from different races, beliefs and religion. These are ties that bind our blood to our beloved homeland. Attempts made in the past and recent times to turn us asunder have only brought us closer together. Today, we can’t deny that social media has become a cesspool of hate, lies and prejudices. With more and more unverified news shared and falsehood upheld, Malaysians have to look harder than ever before to find strength in things that unite them. Evil 2.0 are perpetuated by vitriol on social media. To defeat the dark forces spewing sinister agenda to tear us apart, we look for the power of light, truth and knowledge. These are the foundation of this newspaper and more.

Here’s an idea. Malaysia’s colourful world of multiculturalism is like the intricate and delicate designs of a batik. Our differences are the wax and dye, two distinctive chemical components that complement each other to produce breathtaking floral and geometric designs. Take these away and all we get is a plain dyed fabric or a hardened ball of mess. And we know that Malaysians are anything but plain or disgraced. One thing for sure, we are a proud nation. Like our batik, we are passionately uncompromising when it comes to our national identity. When a national dish, chicken rendang, was violated and humiliated on TV for not being “crispy”, we all boldly came to her defence. When it comes to the country’s heritage and culture, Malaysians are a protective lot.

The colours of batik represent the vibrant colours of Malaysia. On its own, each hue loses its shine, but put them together in unified motifs and they have the power to generate a RM104 million industry with a stake in the US$44 billion (RM180 billion) global fashion market. In the socio-cultural landscape, batik plays a significant role as a unifying factor. It is identifiably Malaysian and belongs to everybody regardless of class and creed, from sultans and statesmen to construction workers and council sweepers. When Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah and Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim visited at the New Straits Times Press newsroom of Balai Berita in Bangsar, earlier this month, Sultan Nazrin wore a blue batik shirt with geometric design that drew much praise. As Malaysians unite in the face of social media vitriol, batik seeks a more significant place in the society beyond that of a dress code concern and academic discourses on Nusantara design identities.

Batik represents our indefatigable spirit in the face of adversaries, turning perceived weaknesses into reaffirmed empowerment. As such, it deserves a bigger platform in the sociopolitical landscape. As we welcome Visit Malaysia Year 2020, we hope to see batik taking centre stage for its beauty to be better appreciated around the world. As a national identity, we hope to see batik being worn in Parliament and getting a bigger presence in the wardrobes of the ordinary folk. As a powerful cultural unifier, batik is our badge of honour. In the face of evil’s calculated and scheming ways, we stand together as one as we celebrate our differences. We will not be defeated. This is our Spirit of Malaysia.

...we are passionately uncompromising when it comes to our national identity.