TANJUNG MANIS: In Malaysia, the craft of songket weaving is synonymous with the east coast states of the peninsula, especially Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang.
And to find a songket weaving centre which has been in operation for almost 30 decades in a small village in Sarawak, specifically in Kampung Rajang in Belawai, near here, is indeed mind-blowing.
In its earlier days in 1991, the Rajang songket weavers began operations from two classrooms at Sekolah Kebangsaan Abang Galau before they moved into the songket weaving centre in 2005.
Rajang Songket Weaving Group chairman Su’anah Sahaili, 63, said although songket was more popular in Terengganu, the Rajang Songket could be equally impressive.
“What’s unique about Rajang songket is both the inside and the outside of the songket is usable. The threads and colours of Rajang songket are meticulously woven that no thread is easily pulled. The weaving process is very neat and tidy,” she told Bernama in conjunction with the recent media familiarisation visit organised by Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation ((STIDC).
With such a meticulous process, no wonder the price of Rajang Songket could go up to RM10,000 and was once bought by Sarawak Governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
According to Su’anah, Rajang songket is normally sold at a price between RM900 and RM10,000 according to the motif, which mostly revolves around the Land of the Hornbills, and the number of gold threads used in the weaving process.
The more delicate the motif and the higher the number of gold threads used, the more expensive it will be, she said.
Su’anah said another special criteria of the Rajang songket was that it was produced according to the customer’s order.
“So, each customer will have a custom-made songket with exclusive motif and design. They don’t have to worry because they will not find the design of their songket on other people’s.
“This is also a reason why the weaving process of Rajang songket will take about four to six months to be completed as we give major emphasis on the quality of each piece of songket that we produce,” she said.
She said the exclusiveness of the Rajang songket had also made it popular among songket enthusiasts, including from Australia and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Su’anah, who is also the fourth generation of Rajang songket weavers, expressed her concern over the lack of interest in the craft of songket weaving among the young generation.
“Sometimes I wonder who will take over when we are gone. We currently have 10 ageing weavers to keep the craft of songket weaving alive at the centre.
“I really hope that the craft of Rajang songket weaving will continue to be preserved as me and my friends here had been doing since 1991. It must be preserved, not just for the sake of our future generation, but also because it is part of our culture and heritage that reflect our identity,” she added. – Bernama
