handicrafts at Menara Sarawak Energy. Standing in the back row are (from right) Sarawak Energy Assistant General Manager of CSR, Jiwari Abdullah (left), Sarawak Energy Senior Manager for Social Investment and Community
Development, Joanne Tan, UNIMAS Department of Design Technology Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts, Associate Professor Dr June Ngo Siok Kheng and UNIMAS Director of the Institute of Social Informatics and Technological Innovations, Professor Dr Narayanan N. Kulathu Ramaiyer.
KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) yesterday unveiled their latest collaboration with the Penan community – Murum Penan Handicraft: Launching of the Contemporary Design.
The designs are the outcome of a partnership between the Murum Penan weaving community, SEB and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) which began in 2016 as an effort to diversify and elevate the commercial viability of the already well received traditional handicraft of the community to expand their sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Hand woven by skilled Murum Penan artisans, rattan products comprising tote bags, clutch purses, men’s briefcases, coasters, platters, lampshades, headbands, bracelets and seminar bags featuring contemporary accents and accessories were on display for sale.
Proceeds from the sale of these products go back to the community. Ear l ier, Aisah Eden, SEB’s Executive Vice President for Corporate Services said that the unveiling will be another of SEB’s flagship Murum Penan Handicrafft programme to increase the standard of livelihood of the Penans after the re-relocation.
