KUCHING: The world’s longest woven mat will take centre stage in conjunction with the Asean International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) 2017 starting today.
Last year, over 400 Orang Ulu weavers from the Bakun, Murum, and Baram communities have earned themselves the ‘Guinness World Record’ title for the longest woven mat in the world.
Measuring 1128.272m in length, they were able to break the previous record which was held by Sweden measuring 797.51m in 2010.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who was there at the launching ceremony said that the act of rolling out the mat is seen as one that is significant.
“It is a sign of welcoming guests; to give the warmest welcome and we welcome everyone who is coming for AIFFA.
“We are pleased that so many are coming for it,” he said during the launching ceremony at Atelier House here yesterday.
Uggah, who is also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Rural Economy, said that he also hoped that such craftsmanship will be able to be promoted to the world market.
“I will assist and hopefully we can promote it to the world market while at the same time, pass the skills and knowledge down to the younger generation.
“We will support it and it also gives an opportunity for the industry to grow and even provide a side income for the rural communities,” he said.
Also present during the event was Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
The mat is currently rolled out at the Amphitheatre here at Taman Budaya until Friday.
