KUCHING: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) through the National Craft Institute (IKN) has established two Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) courses in an effort to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Sarawak’s handicraft products.
Federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the two courses aim to enrol 25 students for each course beginning July this year.
“The course known as ‘Sarawak Songket Weaving’ will be opened at the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (PKKM) Satellite Campus in Kuching, while the ‘Pua Weaving’ course will be opened at PKKM Betong.
“If we do not continue making these heritage products, it will not be developed as it is not easy to attract young people to be involved in weaving,” she said in a press conference at PKKM Sarawak, Petra Jaya here on Monday (Feb 22).
Nancy added that the purpose of her visit was to interact with the staff of PKKM Sarawak and craft entrepreneurs as well as to get the latest information on the development of the local handicraft industry.
“We have plans to expand activities in this area (PKKM) because there is a large plot of land suitable for that purpose here,” she said.
