Malaysian artisans swap lucrative jobs for batik and glass‑fiber boat craftsmanship

Nur Shakilah Abd. Kadir, a 25‑year‑old maritime management graduate from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, left a well‑paid professional career to revive the batik tradition with her sister, Nur Farhana. Starting in 2020, the duo taught themselves batik techniques, created their own printing blocks from tin and iron, and now produce floral‑motif fabrics in a workshop in Kampung Pasir Panjang, Kuala Terengganu.

Nasarudin Hussin, 43, formerly a skilled construction worker in Singapore, returned to his hometown in Besut to launch a glass‑fiber boat business in 2013. Drawing on early experience making boats in Dungun, he fabricates custom‑molded vessels ranging from 10 to 24 feet, priced between RM1,300 and RM20,000, and produces two to three boats each month. Both men and women cite passion and a desire to spend more time with family as the driving forces behind their career shifts, aiming to keep these traditional crafts alive for younger generations.