KUCHING: The Sarawak government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) will continue to support efforts of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in uplifting the quality of craft products in the state.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg commended the Malaysian Association of Arts and Culture Activists Kuching (Macpa) in nominating Sarawak songket to be listed in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) under the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) category next year.
“If we are able to send our traditional heritage to the Unesco headquarters in Paris next year, it will be another milestone for us in popularising our songket and crafts,” he said.
He was speaking at the inaugural Sarawak Music Fashion Galore (Samfag 2020) organised by Macpa at Riverside Majestic Hotel here last Saturday night.
Abang Johari noted there were international institutions engaging on ICH such as the International Training Centre for ICH in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of Unesco (CRIHAP) in Beijing, China as well as International Information and Networking Centre for ICH in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of Unesco (ICHCAP) in Jeonju, Korea.
“We have examined and considered using the research methods implemented by these institutions for Sarawak to work on elevating our cultural heritage to the international level,” he said.
Specifically for songket, he said Sarawak had started on efforts to improve the quality of the craft especially on the materials used.
“My wife Datuk Amar Jumaani Tuanku Bujang and her team have engaged on this matter through Motac and Sarawak Keringkam and Songket Heritage Innovation Project led by Datuk Dr Sabariah Putit in the efforts to increase ways to obtain quality materials in the making of the craft.
“In terms of quality yarn, we are looking at materials from Turkey in designing our songket,” he revealed.
He also shared that the State Prison Department was collaborating with Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (Centexs) and Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHe) in setting up a songket-weaving training programme, inspired by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
Apart from songket, Abang Johari said Sarawak also has other traditional heritage products such as keringkam and pua kumbu which could be developed and elevated to the international level.
Theme ‘Enchanting Evening with Sarawak songket’, Samfag 2020 showcased a collection of 31 designs from three fashion designers Anna Sue, Ben Nazry and Wan Bainun.
The event also witnessed Abang Johari presenting the Fashion Icon Award to veteran Sarawak style icon and International fashion designer Datuk Tom Abang Saufi.
Also present were the chief minister’s wife Datuk Amar Jumaani Tuanku Bujang; Motac Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and wife Datin Zuraini Abdul Jabbar; Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Corporate Affairs and Sarawak Public Communication Unit) Abdullah Saidol; and Macpa president Marzuki Tambi.
