Borhan (centre) painting a batik design on a cloth while Nadia (on his right) looks on at Sultan Alam Shah Museum. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
The bunga tanjung is in the process of being gazetted as Selangor’s official flower.
State rural development, village traditions, Malay customs, culture and heritage committee chairman Borhan Aman Shah said the state has unanimously adopted the bloom, also known as Spanish cherry, as the official flower.
“The bunga tanjung motif can be seen in Selangor’s official emblems, decor and logos.
“It is also present in decorations at Istana Bandar in Kuala Langat, Istana Alam Shah in Klang and Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah,” he said, adding that the flower was also found in the Selangor state insignia.
A common sight in Selangor, the cream-coloured bunga tanjung produces a strong fragrance when in full bloom in April.
Borhan said the Malay Customs and Heritage Corporation Selangor (Padat) has carried out research on the bunga tanjung.
He thanked Universiti Teknologi Mara’s College of Creative Arts Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Azhar Samin for working with the Malaysia Handicraft Selangor branch and Padat to popularise the Selangor batik that used the bunga tanjung as its main motif.
Borhan said this after attending a one-day workshop on batik motifs at Sultan Alam Shah Museum in Shah Alam, Selangor.
At the event, 30 students from the College of Creative Arts showed their skills in drawing batik design.
Four batik creations measuring 12m with the bunga tanjung motif will be exhibited at the Selangor Textile Museum.
Borhan added that there were plans to sell the bunga tanjung batik and other handicrafts bearing the motif at handicraft centres in various districts.
Padat chief executive officer Dr Nadia Widyawati Madzhi said the bunga tanjung had a strong connection with Selangor state and with the local community.
“We organised the batik workshop as an avenue to introduce the flower as the official flower of the state.
“It is also to publicise the Selangor batik and the use of bunga tanjung as a motif,” she said.
Nadia said the workshop was important as it emphasised the importance of the local culture and that of Selangor.
Borhan (centre) painting a batik design on a cloth while Nadia (on his right) looks on at Sultan Alam Shah Museum. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
The bunga tanjung.
