In the running for best batik designer

Leela (centre, in pink) with the semi-finalists in the fashion category of the 19th Piala Seri Endon. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star

THE race to be crowned Malaysia’s best batik designer is hotting up with the conclusion of the semi-final round of the 19th Piala Seri Endon.

A total of 29 entries were assessed by a panel of experts in the industry, with 12 teams in the fashion category securing a spot at the grand final to be held on Sept 8.

Organiser Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia (Penyayang), in a media statement, said the competition aimed to discover talents in batik-making.

“It is also a platform to recognise and encourage Malaysians to develop batik designs in the three categories,” it said.

Apart from fashion, the other categories are soft furnishing and handicraft.

In the soft furnishing category, participants were tasked with decorating a room at the Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur, while a hall was set up for handicraft competitors to display their products.

The soft furnishing and handicraft categories received 10 and 12 entries respectively.

There was no semi-final round for these two categories, and winners will be announced at the grand final.

A striking design modelled in the semi-final round of the competition’s fashion category.

Named after the late Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood, wife of former prime minister Tun Abdullah Badawi, the competition was launched in 2003.

It debuted with the fashion category, and the soft furnishing category was added in 2004 and handicraft in 2005.

The competition welcomes Malaysians aged 18 and above. They can participate individually or in a group of not more than four people.

In the preliminary round, participants were required to submit product samples and sketches.

Those shortlisted were invited to present their products for further assessment.

The entries were judged based on design, research and development, presentation and commercial viability.

The grand final at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre will see the first, second and third placers in each category receiving RM30,000, RM10,000 and RM5,000 respectively.

There are also five consolation prizes of RM1,000 for finalists in each category.

Present at the semi-final were Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry’s Visit Malaysia 2026 secretariat head Zain Azrai Rashid, Penyayang chief executive officer Datuk Leela Mohd Ali, Penyayang general manager Datuk Arif Farhan Doss and Malaysian Bumiputera Designers Association founder Bon Zainal Harun.