Tengku Puan Pahang gets special award
SERI KEMBANGAN: Tengku Puan Pahang Tunku Azizah Maimunah Iskandariah was given a special award by the Prisons Department for her contributions in continuing the legacy of traditional batik and songket craftsmanship.
The recognition was meaningful as her advocacy to preserve the Tenun Pahang DiRaja has given a second chance to many prison inmates nationwide to gain new skills and earn a livelihood after serving their sentences.
The award was given by her husband Tengku Mahkota of Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah during the Batik, Songket and Tenun Pahang diRaja Creative Award Gala held at the Palace of Golden Horses here on Friday night.
During the ceremony, Tunku Azizah was clearly touched by a “batik keruping” gift and letter of thanks penned by inmates from the Betong prison in Pahang, who were involved in the programme.
Her dedication to the craft of batik and songket is well known.
Last year, she designed and oversaw the tailoring of a special Baju Kurung Teluk Belanga made by the inmates of the Penor prison which was gifted to her niece, Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Ibrahim which was worn on the latter’s wedding day.
The elegant outfit was created using the traditional looms of the Tenun Pahang DiRaja songket.
The designs have been worn by other members of royalty as well. In 2006, the sultan of Pahang granted royal status to this special fabric, which had previously been referred to as Tenun Pahang.
Prisons Department directorgeneral Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar said the royal support given to the songket and batik-making initiatives have proven to be a success when 98 inmates receive certification for their skills.
Inmates in the Marang prison in Terengganu are trained in songket-weaving, while the Dungun and Marang correctional centres offer songket-making programmes. Inmates in the Pengkalan Chepa and Marang, Kelantan correctional centre are involved in batik-making.