KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu government has declared Sundays as Batik Day in the state.
State Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman Datuk Razali Idris said that in addition to state civil servants, private sector employees, self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs and Terengganu residents were all encouraged to wear batik on Sundays.
"The state government supports the federal government's (effort to encourage) the wearing of batik at any time, including the mandatory batik dress code (for civil servants) on Thursdays.
"I see this as a good opportunity to revitalise Terengganu batik, which I believe has been dying away with the increasing presence of imported batik from abroad, particularly from India and Pakistan," he said after officiating the Beautiful Terengganu Malaysia Carnival (KBTM) 2024 here last night.
Razali, however, said that all civil servants in the state are subject to the dress code for civil servants to be issued by the Human Resource Management Division of the State Secretary's Office.
"Hopefully this initiative will serve as a platform to promote Terengganu batik, renowned for its high quality, and play a role in boosting the economy of the local batik industry," he said
In August last year, the federal government has decided to allow all civil servants to wear batik to work daily as the government will raise temperatures at all its premises to ensure energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint as well as promote the country's batik industry.
Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was reported saying air conditioner temperatures at government premises will be maintained at 24 degree to 25° degree Celsius..– BERNAMA