By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Feb 28: Mohd Khairi Mahmood knows better than most the value of a good quality tool in the hands of the craftsmen who use them.
Hailing from Kelantan, the 38-year-old who has been a batik block maker for 20 years learned the trade via Kraftangan Malaysia after sitting for his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination.
Mohd Khairi said he is proud to be carrying on the lineage of the unique skillset which has heritage and cultural value.
“I worked as an intern for a company making copper mould batik in Kota Bharu, and I was with them for eight years before I ventured out on my own,” he said when met by DayakDaily at Citrawrana Keluarga Malaysia Festival 2022, which was recently held at the Kuching Waterfront from Feb 24-27.
“There is nothing more pleasurable than to support the heritage and culture of the batik industry in the country,” he added.
According to Mohd Khairi, Kraftangan Malaysia conducts programmes and training to train individuals like him to be craftsmen.
“This is to help preserve our cultural heritage in the traditional craft industry like batik making. I want to see our heritage and our culture continue to flourish.
“For me, I am just the person making a copper block mould used in printing batik textile. It will be sad if we lose everything in the future,” he lamented.
“Being a craftsman, I am very happy that I can share with people how to produce beautiful artwork and print it on a fabric that people love and like,” he added.
Mohd Khairi explained that working with copper blocks to make prints on fabric makes work much easier for the batik maker and producer.
“With the copper block mould introduced in the early 20th-century, many more textile producers making batik boosted their production,” he said.
Mohd Khairi revealed that batik making on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia was introduced and started by the Javanese Indonesians who migrated there.
“Gradually, over the years, our motifs and designs have grown to be different. Our aesthetic design is peculiar to Malaysia. We started to produce our motifs from the 60s and up until now.
“Malaysian batik tends to depict flowers and leaves. These two are very popular motifs in our design and so is the copper blocks that I make,” he shared.
Mohd Khairi revealed that unlike batik produced in West Malaysia, Sarawak batik is different and depicts ethnic Dayak motifs.
“I know there is a Sarawakian making such blocks here. That is good so that our heritage and culture here has a place. Sarawak batik has a market. Kudos to the local producer and my fellow copper block maker here.
“We want to make sure that copper block mould makers everywhere in Malaysia continue to do a good job. This is to ensure our heritage and culture of batik making is here to stay,” he reiterated.
Mohd Khairi explained that the copper moulds are shaped and made according to design patterns.
“The mould is made from copper sheet and folded according to the sketched design pattern on the paper.
“It is then held on together with an iron clip for the copper sheet to be bonded and welded to the design pattern,” he explained.
“Once the copper block is completed, it is levelled evenly so that the pattern is uniform. This makes printing with wax onto the fabric easier,” he added.
Mohd Khairi said, over the years, he has received thumbs-up from the batik makers who used his copper blocks.
He said he felt honoured to be invited to Citrawarna Keluarga Malaysia Festival 2022.
“I am willing to impart my knowledge in making copper block moulds to locals.
“I hope people here appreciate what all the craftsmen are doing to safeguard our heritage and culture for future generations.”
Mohd Khairi believes the government should train many more young people as skilled craftsmen to preserve traditional crafts like making batik.
He charges his customers RM250 per copper block mould, and on average, he can have a mould ready within a week.
“Of course, the size of the order determines the length of time to finish a mould. But, I will do my best with the assistance of my four staff and family members,” he said.
For any inquiries, call Mohd Khairi at 010-4163 696. — DayakDaily
