KUANTAN: The state government, through the Old Kuching Smart Heritage (Okshe), will be working with the Pahang government to further develop Sarawak’s songket potential.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Chief Minister’s wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, is aimed at enhancing the industry’s skills and knowledge, as well as developing the necessary infrastructure.
According to Deputy State Secretary Datuk Dr Sabariah Putit in a press statement yesterday, the Sarawak government chose to cooperate with Pahang because of the detailed quality of the Tenun DiRaja Pahang (Pahang Royal weaving), that could serve as a benchmark for Sarawak to innovate the state’s heritage, especially songket.
Apart from that, she said, the cooperation with Yayasan Tenun DiRaja Pahang and the Prison Department would help boost Sarawak’s economy, especially that of the B40 group.
“With the various programmes that have been planned since 2017, efforts to uphold the state’s songket and keringkam will be achieved.
“This is important to maintain the legacy of weaving tradition among Sarawakians.
“It is hoped that through this collaboration, we will be able to share the experience, process and techniques of songket weaving, thus helping to commercialise Sarawak songket,” she said after visiting the Pahang Royal weaving workshop at Penor Prison here on Monday.
The visit was led by Juma’ani.
Sabariah said nowadays songket weaving is gaining popularity among Sarawakians.
“More and more young people are starting to wear the songket and keringkam both at formal and informal occasions,” she added.
Meanwhile, Prisons Department director (prisoners’ management) commissioner Ariffin Mohd Noor said that as one of the agencies involved, they were ready to share their knowledge and experience.
“We will work hard to ensure that Sarawak’s aspiration to become a quality songket manufacturer can be realised.
“What we have done at Penor Prison will serve as a guide to trainers at Puncak Borneo Prison,” he explained.
State Prisons director deputy commissioner Ajidin Salleh said for the first time, three prison officers from Puncak Borneo would undergo weaving courses at the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (Centexs) in October.
