Malaysian Singer Aisha Retno Faces Backlash Over “Malaysian Batik” Gift

Kuala Lumpur, El Sky News – Malaysian singer Sharifah Aisha Retno Sayed Sipulijam, popularly known as Aisha Retno, recently became the focus of social media criticism after gifting Malaysian batik to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the Singapore premiere of the musical film Wicked: For Good. Her comment referring to the batik as “from Malaysia” sparked a debate online.

Reaction from Indonesian Netizens

Some Indonesian Instagram and TikTok users criticized Aisha, stating that batik originates from Indonesia and suggesting her comment was an attempt to “claim cultural heritage.” Example comment:

“Batik is from Indonesia… if you want to say Malaysian, just call it Malaysian fabric. Don’t claim batik.”

The criticism quickly went viral, attracting attention from Malaysian netizens who expressed disappointment over the cultural misunderstanding.

Aisha Retno’s Response

Aisha responded publicly, clarifying that the batik she gave was handmade Malaysian batik, known for its unique Malaysian style. She emphasized her intention was to promote Malaysian culture positively, not to disregard Indonesia’s batik. Aisha highlighted her deep respect for batik from all countries:

“Batik varies across countries and ethnicities… Indonesian batik is beautiful and inspiring. I truly appreciate the diversity of batik art.”

She also mentioned her mother is Indonesian, showing her personal appreciation for Indonesia’s rich batik heritage.

Background

• Full Name: Sharifah Aisha Retno Sayed Sipulijam
• Profession: Singer under Sony Music Malaysia
• Family: Mother from Indonesia, father from Kelantan, Malaysia
• Recent Highlight: Provided the Malay voice dubbing for the character Glinda in the Malay version of Wicked.

Cultural Significance This incident reflects the sensitivity surrounding cultural heritage in Southeast Asia. Aisha’s gift aimed to showcase Malaysian craftsmanship, but it triggered discussions on respecting and correctly attributing cultural origins. Proper communication is essential to celebrate cultural diversity without misunderstandings.