It not easy to narrow down or trace since a few version about the origin of batik in Malaysia but what did I found out is the Malaysian batik origin is from Indonesia (Proven by earlier Malaysian batik design of sarong were very much influenced with Indonesian inspired designs) spread to Tanah Melayu in 1920s with technique is also known as ‘batik chop’ or “batik terap”-(using stamp to produced batik) and being start produced in east coast Kelantan .In earlier 1930s batik producer in Kelantan still using the wooden blocks and using natural color but in 1950s copper blocks and tin blocks are been introduced.‘Batik tulis’ or “batik lukis” or hand drawn batik in Malaysia were introduced ,firmly believed by Master or “Sifu” of batik Wan Nong Ahmad in year 1970s in Kuala Lumpur .The first batch of apprentice under Wan Nong Ahmad to learn and produced hand drawn batik in Malaysia -Azman,Md.Noor and Salleh and the second batch –Hishamudin Ahmad, Khalid Shamsuddin Arshad and Rahman Rani.In the year 1970s also the using of batik stretcher or frame adopting from Japanese Kimono dyeing techniques. It different from Indonesian hand drawn batik, the dyeing process without using stretcher or frame.
In year 1980s in hand drawn batik was introduced by “Overlap” technique of coloring or dyeing which mean more than one layer of wax and color are using compare to previous technique where just a layer of wax with few color are used. Who’s the first batik artist to create “Overlap” technique? I have no idea about that cause many batik artist blaming that they are the first in the market.
Nowadays Malaysian batik has developed its own particular aesthetic, recognizable by it distinguishes pattern and vivid colors.
