For many people in Jakarta, it has become some sort of " tradition " to wear the Indonesian traditional dress or shirt Batik to work every Friday.
But today, me and many others who do not usually wear Batik are also wearing it, due to the following reasons:
Firstly, on this day the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is scheduled to officially announce that Indonesian Batik to a global list of Intangible Cultural Heritage items;
Secondly, I felt that this recognition is special therefore worth celebrating
Thirdly, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono has urged the Indonesian people to wear Batik so as to celebrate this special occasion;
For detailed media report on the above, please click here and here.
Considering the above, I hope that from now on the Indonesian people would show ownership of Batik not just by wearing it but also conducting research to develop designs, and promoting it as often as possible.
Last but not least, I hope that the UNESCO's recognition of Batik would calm down my fellow Indonesians who have shown their uncontrolled anger towards Malaysia about this matter.
Photo: Courtesy of The Jakarta Globe
6 comments:
Batik is a wonderful creation. But the designs have evolved in accordance to the dictates of the fashion industry and locality. I bet Indonesian and Malaysian batik differs in many ways, too. I guess the Indonesian tradition, culture or heritage seeped into the Malaysian way of life due to the acceptance by Malaysians of the many Indonesians who had and are living here.
hi harry sorry to see the damage that has been done down your neck of the woods best regards stu
Ismail,
Majority of people in Indonesia and Malaysia are Malayan, whereby many people from Java, Sumatera, Bali, Sulawesi etc. migrated to Malaysia bringin with them their culture, tradition or heritage. Therefore, it is obvious if both countries have lots of similarities. And we should actually be grateful!
I believe that most Indonesian and Malaysian Malays feel the same way as I do. Only few, for whatever reasons, are shouting out loud emotionally. This has been used as political issue during the last
12 months when Indonesia has gone through preparations for Paliamentary and Presidential elections. Moreover the media have take advantage of the situation for their own interests.
Stuart,
I think your comment should be for the earthquake.
Thank you for your symphaty, this disaster effected the Indonesian people.
wow thanks UNESCO. that right
SaungWeb,
I agree thank we should thank UNESCO
for their decision
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