Murum Penan community handicrafts on sale at Menara S’wak Energy
KUCHING: The fine workmanship of the Murum Penan community was unveiled yesterday at The Atrium of Menara Sarawak Energy, featuring new and contemporary designs that will expand their market and make these items a must-have for every fashionista.
Invited guests comprising handicraft enthusiasts and representatives of organisations involved in the development of Sarawak indigenous crafts were among those who eagerly browsed through the latest collection, snapping up their choice pieces for themselves or for friends.
The items, hand woven from rattan, include tote bags, clutch purses, men’s briefcases, coasters, platters, lamp shades, headbands, bracelets and seminar bags.
The designs are results of a partnership between the Murum Penan weaving community, Sarawak Energy and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak ( Unimas) which began in 2016 as an effort to diversify and boost the commercial viability of these already wellreceived traditional handicrafts.
With all proceeds going directly back to the Murum Penan community, it also expands their sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The launch was officiated by Sarawak Energy Corporate Services executive vice president Aisah Eden, Corporate Social Responsibility assistant general manager Jiwari Abdullah, and Social Investment and Community Development senior manager Joanne Tan.
Representing Unimas were Institute of Social Informatics and Technological Innovations director Professor Dr Narayanan N Kulathu Ramaiyer, and Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts Design Technology Department Associate Professor Dr June Ngo Siok Kheng.
According to Aisah, Sarawak Energy embarked on this initiative to enhance commercial viability of these authentic handicrafts, expanding their market and providing for a more sustainable form of economy for the Murum Penan community.
“As part of our commitment to corporate social responsibility, our prime objective was to work together with these relocated communities on sustainable livelihood programmes to ensure that their standard of living after relocation would be raised.”
This initiative goes back to the years before the Murum Penan community’s relocation in 2013 to the resettlement at Tegulang and Metalun with the construction of the Murum Hydroelectric Plant.
Sarawak Energy has help set up schools and rolled out its flagship literacy programme which have since enabled around 400 Penan adults to read and write. The company also contributes to the Bakun Charitable Trust to support the education needs of the Penan in Belaga and the resettled community.
It also runs a Youth Development Programme in partnership with the Society for Advancement of Women and the Family Sarawak, and the extension of the ‘Literacy for Social Inclusion’ programme carried out together with the Dyslexia Association of Sarawak.
There are currently about 70 artisans actively producing handicrafts in the Tegulang resettlement, including beadwork.
In his speech, Narayanan said that this was not just a handicraft project for the community; this was their life.
“Once, there were only two artisans in the community. Now every household has an artisan. They work together and produce as much as possible,” he said, adding that they now can carry it forward by mentoring new artisans.
Since 2014 and in partnership with Sarawak Craft Council and Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation Sarawak branch, a number of training workshops were organised at Long Wat and Long Malim to broaden their range of products.
The artisans were also part of Festival Kraft Sarawak in Miri and Bintulu, National Craft Day in Kuala Lumpur, and Rainforest World Music Festival this year.