KUCHING: Sarawak with its textile heritage is poised to be an exemplary creative hub, said Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said the textile domain has come a long way in Borneo, especially in Sarawak, with the textile sphere covering multiple ethnic groups, among others, the Dayak, Malay, Melanau, Orang Ulu, Chinese and Indian.
“The Sarawak government has high regards for the textile industry. It has a lot of potential to contribute to the development of our country’s economy and livelihood, and we have recognised the traditional craft as one of the major players in our economic strategy, with a special focus on local textiles such as the Sarawak Songket and Keringkam.
“Therefore, it is especially important that the development of local talents today be made the focal point in sustaining our textile community.
“With the support of different agencies in training textile-related skills among the local talents as well as a harmonious ecosystem, Sarawak can, and will be, an exemplary creative hub for our textile heritage,” he said.
Abdul Karim said this during the three-day ‘Lembaran Emas Series 2: Borneo Textile Symposium which was officiated by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah at Pullman Hotel on Tuesday (Dec 6).
He also said the Sarawak handicraft industry had recorded RM15.7 million in sales in 2021.
“This was achieved through the tireless craft community of 687 people in Sarawak alone. Among them are individuals who have dedicated their lives to mastering and threading yard upon yard of invaluable fabric,” he pointed out.
Abdul Karim said with digitalisation effort, these handicrafts were able to reach a wider audience, both locally and internationally.
“To encourage this trend and to amplify the effect on tourism, hybrid-based collaboration between key players in the textile preservation and production, such as Majlis Seni Sarawak, Sarawak Tourism Board and Sarawak Craft Council, and perhaps with international organisations as well, should be established firmly.
“Not to be forgotten is the significance of academic and intellectual perspectives on arts provided by the Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), that has highlighted Malaysian crafts in the academia of arts and culture.
“All these are to ensure that this form of heritage is preserved sustainably for the benefit of our future generations,” he said.
On the symposium, he said it is inspired by the Asean Textiles Symposium that was held in Putrajaya last September.
“For the Borneo Textiles Symposium, it is a part of an ongoing initiative to enhance and propel our textile preservation and conservation,” he said.
