Use inherited skills to create traditional handicrafts to boost income – Pairin
TAMBUNAN: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said that the villagers' inherent skills in the manufacturing sector have contributed much to the development of the tourism industry in this district.
He said the skills to create handicrafts inherited from their ancestors have managed to attract foreign and domestic tourists to visit the state, i ncluding this district.
“Do not lose sight of the beauty of our cultural tradition. Instead we should continue the inheritance of the skills handed down by our ancestors that were able to secure our future, especially in terms of income through the creation of attractive and profitable handicrafts,” he said in his speech when officiating at the closing ceremony of the Capacity Building and Creating A Sustainable I ncome From Weaving and Bead Making Skills program held at Kampung Tombotuon here yesterday.
The one-week program was participated by 60 participants, including two youths from the villages of Tombutuon and Monsok. It is jointly organized by Talisman Malaysia Limited as sponsor, Sabah Museum as trainer, monitor and keeper of the records and Sabah Homestay Association as a network marketing agency.
Pairin, who is also Minister of Infrastructure Development, said the skills and knowledge in the art of weaving and bead making of their ancestors were slowly becoming extinct in this modern world without borders.
He said in the cyber age of information technology and communications (ICT), a number of people had been influenced by the variety of information coming from the social media and this had led them to neglect and set aside their ancestor traditions.
“The work carried out by Talisman Malaysia Limited and Sabah Museum revives the tradition of fine hand art and this should serve as a catalyst for this art to continue to be developed and promoted.
“This is a contribution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by Talisman Malaysia Limited to continue conserving local arts and culture through the program today,” he said.
Pairin called on the participants to use their skills and knowledge through the manufacturing sector to supplement their incomes.
He also asked the participants not to discard all the equipment donated by the sponsors, Talisman Malaysia Limited, by keeping it hidden in the house without making use the skills learned in this program.
According to him, skillful local residents should be able to develop further and prosper with the skills learned.
“Wake up, be smart to get sustainable income. Do not lose the beauty of our cultural tradition,” he said.
Pairin also suggested that the traditional Dusun costume competition held during the Statelevel Kaamatan Festival in this district on May 1 be extended to include the promotion of arts and culture of the community here.
He said it would be like promoting Tambunan as the Switzerland of the East to tourists from abroad in conjunction with the festival.
According to him, it is expected that about 30,000 tourists, both domestic and abroad, will visit Tambunan for the festival.
Present at the function were Talisman Malaysia Limited, Kinabalu Asset Manager, Duncan Smart, State Museum director and deputy president of Sabah Homestay Association, Joanna Datuk Kitingan, district officer Thomas Logijin, and Talisman Malaysia’s Government and Community Relations representative, Eddie Abdullah.