Public challenged to transform KL precinct into original designs
A COLLABORATION celebrating Malaysian batik has been launched in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026.
The “Seni Sini: Batik Remix Challenge” at the Merdeka MRT Station in Kuala Lumpur was launched by Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry domestic and events division senior director Mohd Roslan Abdullah.
The initiative brings together government, education and industry partners in an effort to promote cultural heritage, support creative talent and encourage greater appreciation of Malaysia’s rich traditions among younger generations.
Initiated by Mahsa Avenue International College (MAIC) in partnership with MRT Corp and Jadi Batek – this nationwide design challenge forms part of the “Discover Malaysia” campaign by The Artisans Haven.
It aims to promote Malaysian heritage, experiential tourism and cultural appreciation by challenging the public to translate the history, culture and landmarks around Merdeka 118 into an original batik design.
Speaking at the launch, Mohd Roslan said initiatives such as “Seni Sini: Batik Remix” demonstrated how education and tourism could work together to create meaningful learning experiences while strengthening appreciation for the nation’s cultural heritage.
“Tourism is not merely about destinations; it is about discovery, experience and learning.
“Through initiatives like these, participants are encouraged to explore Malaysia’s stories and express them creatively through batik, one of our most treasured cultural symbols.”
MAIC chief executive officer Michelle Thong said, “Batik is more than patterns and fabric.
“It tells the story of our people, traditions and identity.
“Through this challenge, we hope participants will celebrate Malaysian heritage in a way that is relevant, creative and meaningful for today’s generation. ”
Shortlisted entries will be exhibited at the Merdeka MRT Station which is connected to Merdeka 118.
The winner will receive a micro-credential course focused on specialised design skill sets sponsored by MAIC.
The winning design will be transformed into commercial fashion merchandise and featured through The Artisans Haven@MRT Merdeka.
MRT Corp commercial chief Schrene Goh said, “At MRT Corp, we believe public transportation infrastructure should do more than connect destinations.
“It should also create opportunities for learning, cultural appreciation and community engagement.
“The Artisans Haven and MAIC have been great partners for us to provide more curated experiences here at Merdeka MRT.”
Present at the launch were MAIC principal Tung An Gie, Jadi Batek founder Colin Yong and The Artisans Haven founder and chief executive officer Jade Lee.
Entry to the challenge, which ends July 28, is free.
It is open to the public including non-Malaysians, aged 18 years and above, as well as MAIC students and staff.
Participants must submit entries individually, with a maximum of one artwork per person.
All submissions must be based on the theme “Celebrating Merdeka and Malaysian Batik”.
Entries must incorporate visual elements inspired by Precinct 118.
In terms of technical requirements, the artwork must be created using traditional batik techniques on fabric only, utilising hand-painted batik, block batik or a combination of both.
For details, visit https://forms.gle/1zetz5GMrPj45cfp8
