KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia) yesterday inked a memorandum of understanding with three agencies involved in tourism and umrah, particularly for Malaysian umrah pilgrims, in an effort to promote batik textile products on the global stage.
The agencies are the Association of Umrah and Hajj Travel Agents (Papuh), the Bumiputera Tourism Operators Association of Malaysia (Bumitra) and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta).
The memorandum was signed by Kraftangan Malaysia director-general Ainu Sham Ramli, while Papuh was represented by its deputy secretary Datuk Prof Dr Wan Toren Wan Yusoff, Bumitra by its president Harun KC Ammu and Matta by its deputy president Sheikh Awadh Abdullah.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Mohd Zamri Mat Zain witnessed the signing ceremony.
Mohd Zamri told reporters that the ministry is aiming for Malaysian umrah pilgrims to wear batik as early as November or December this year.
“This is one of the aggressive efforts by the ministry in collaboration with the tourism and Umrah associations to highlight the Malaysian batik identity abroad as its use is a manifestation of identity as Malaysians,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kraftangan Malaysia deputy director-general (development) Abdul Halim Ali said the MoU would allow umrah or tourism operators to offer packages compatible with the use of Malaysian batik for activities other than performing the umrah.
“Normally, there will be ‘ziarah’ (visiting) programmes when they perform the umrah and, as such, the pilgrims can be encouraged to wear batik, such as the telekung (prayer garment) and batik shirts so that they can look like a team wearing corporate colours,” he said. – BERNAMA
