Case Study : Nordin Batik & Craft Sdn Bhd / Syaidatul Norifa Mohd Badrul

Malaysia is one of the country that is well known for various types of local crafts.World Craft Council – Asia Pacific Region has recognized Malaysian batik as one of the local craft that most well-known globally. Batik is a technique used to decorate a fabric with designs, by using wax to resist the dye from penetrating into other parts of the fabric that has been patterned. Nordin Batik & Craft Co. Ltd. is private limited companies formed to manufacture and distributes traditional batik for the domestic and foreign markets from Kelantan. Established in 1993 with the name Nordin Batik Sdn Bhd. On February 23, 2010, from Nordin Batik it changed to Nordin Batik & Craft Co. Ltd. Located in the Kampung Sireh, Kota Bharu with three employees. Being a rural industry, batik has ability to generate new job opportunities to the local communities and in return contribute to the main part of household income. In reality, Malaysian batik can act as a multifunctional Malaysian fabric, craft, and art. Therefore, batik has been recognized as a high-value heritage of the Malaysian country. Through 1Malaysia concept, batik has classified as the national dress and is able to act as a unifier in a multiethnic country. As a heritage product, batik has ability to support the cultural tourism activities and country’s fashion industry. This situation indicates that there is demand for batik in local and external market. Nevertheless, most of the batik firm performance still dominated by small medium enterprises. In fact, some firms are categorized in the microenterprises firms. The number of workers that the majority are on an old age and highly dependent on an imported raw materials became a serious issue for the future of the country's batik industry. Thus, this study aims to identify the problems faced by the batik producers in the development of batik industry in the country. The finding indicates that the problems in batik industry actually involves the use of raw materials, labors, and markets and competition. Therefore, government and relevant agencies need to focus on these issues in order to ensure the sustainability of batik industry in the future and the younger generation able to understand the batik as a promoter of Malaysian cultural and high-valued heritage that should be preserved