Malaysia’s monarchy charts a new course amid political flux
Unstable coalitions have created greater room for the country’s royal institutions to influence government formation, observers say
Instead, the 25-year-old from the northeastern city of Kota Bharu transformed songket – the lustrous handwoven fabric once reserved for Malay courts and ceremonial dress – into a portrait of the sultan and his wife before a golden-domed palace.
“My focus has never been about painting royal figures simply because they are royal,” he told This Week in Asia. “I never planned for my work to become closely associated with royalty, but I’m grateful that it has opened the door for me to share Malaysian culture with a wider audience.”
On TikTok, viewers watch Darwisy layer paint over woven gold thread, gradually revealing royal faces against patterns that carry centuries of courtly history. Many of those following the process are young Malaysians encountering the monarchy not through a constitutional textbook or palace ceremony, but through an algorithm.
“They first discover my work because they enjoy watching the creative process,” he said. “Then they become curious about the story behind the artwork and the cultural meaning of the materials.”
That curiosity is growing at a moment when Malaysia’s royal institutions have become increasingly visible far beyond ceremonial life.