SIMUNJAN: Malaysian Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri today handed over a total of RM39,000 cash incentives to 1,097 handicraft practitioners in Sarawak with each receiving RM1,500.
“The government has allocated RM9 million to 6,000 handicraft makers in the country.
“Out of that total sum, we are handing a total sum of RM39,000 to 26 representatives of these handicraft practitioners in Sarawak here today,” she told reporters after the handing over ceremony at Sri Simunjan Rest house at Batang Sadong near here.
She said previously incentives by giving rebates had also been given to the same group but this was the first time that cash incentives were given to them.
“This is to motivate them to continue with their craft making and also to motivate them to market their products as well,” she said.
Nancy added that the Malaysian Handicraft’s initiative “Cakna Craft” through the Creative Craft Studio, Excellent Craft Centre at the National Craft Institute has also been expanded by handing out batik colouring kits to 200 students in two schools in Simunjan.
The two schools involved in the pilot projects are Chung Hua Primary School, Simunjan and Abang Man Secondary School, Simunjan.
“This is to encourage them to appreciate craft in schools and to monetise their handicraft work so as to also encourage them to become entrepreneurs in the future,” she said.
