IT is timely for the Sarawak government to set up the Sarawak Craft Council to add value to art and craft products produced by artisans in the state.
Satok assemblyman Datuk Ibrahim Baki said Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah saw the vast potential of the craft industry not only as an income generator for makers and players but also as a great tourism product.
“And with this new trajectory of approaching, pursuing and managing the industry, there is a need to recalibrate the same in an orderly and regulated way,” he said when debating on the Sarawak Craft Council Bill at the DUN yesterday.
Sarawak, he said, has been a proponent of digital technology through the farsighted vision of the Premier who launched the initiative in 2017 and innovation has been the mantra in keeping up with the rapid pace of development.
“In the same vein, it is my ardent hope that the local craft industry can follow in the same footsteps to adopt technology particularly in the sale and promotion of their products,” he said.
He also said craft products must be just as accessible and obtainable in the same manner – by selling them on established platforms to allow for a bigger market reach.
“I have no doubt that if we can somehow digitalise our craft processes, the returns be it in terms of monetary, productivity and product awareness will be a boon to the craftsmen which in turn would allow them to be more creative in the crafting of their products,” he said, adding that marketing must be done in tandem with the push for these products on the online platform.
On another note, he said there is a need to ensure the art of making craft products is not lost on the younger generation.
“We need to assure the younger generation that the craft industry is a growing industry with opportunities for them to make a living while preserving their own tradition.
“While the art of craft traditionally is passed down through generations, there are also those who might not have the same privilege of being taught to do so. We must address this by providing training through dedicated centres to provide those who are interested in craft making with the necessary skills and know-hows,” he said.
The preservation of craft through commercialisation, he said, not only requires support from the business community, but also needs a whole-of-society approach in ensuring its success.
“We must make preservation of craft a culture. This can be adopted by government agencies, statutory bodies and the private entities by dedicating a programme for such in their own calendar.”
Ibrahim also said there is a need to maintain the quality of the products, thus regulation is important to ensure the quality and reputation of the locally made products.
“We must employ certain standards on the products that are sold and the materials used.
“Another aspect is authenticity, we must be able to certify whether a craft product is indeed locally made and is not outsourced to factories outside of Sarawak. The jobs that are created from this industry must be kept local. Incentives must be given by the state government to ensure that this remains the case,” he said.
On a side note, he said there must be viability of small businesses that are operating from home selling to middlemen who are purchasing by the bulk.
“Some form of regulation is needed for the small businesses to sustain and for them to be able to make a decent living instead of being paid pennies to the dollar,” said Ibrahim.
