Craft festival promotes rich cultural heritage
MIRI: Malaysia Craft Festival currently held here until tomorrow promotes the rich cultural heritage of Malaysians while generating income for local producers and vendors.
A steady stream of visitors including those from neighbouring Brunei and Sabah, patronise the 50 stalls selling various handicrafts in various mediums – wood, rattan, ceramic, metal, textile as well as pearls. Vendors were mostly from Sarawak with some from Sabah, Melaka, Perak, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
According to Mohd Hafiz Mohd Hashim, Economic Affairs assistant officer of Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation ( Sarawak), vendors reported brisk business although sales is slightly less than last year.
“In the first three days last week, some vendors reported gross sale of RM2,000 to RM6,000 while those with high end products recorded more,” said Hafiz when met at the festival.
“This time the response to my wood and rattan based handicrafts is good but slower compared to previous years,” said Mohd Amin Abdullah from Serian Division who had been participating in the festival for more than 15 years.
“The response to our specially designed Selangor based crafts has been superb,” said Rosmah Mustafah from Melaka.
A new vendor with special needs from Long Banga, Ling Jalong said: “This is a great opportunity to reach out to our customers. Today I received several orders of almost RM1,000 for Kenyah traditional costumes and hats,” she said
Justina Laeng of Persatuan Pelukis, Seni Visual Miri (PPVSM) also concurred with Ling that the craft festival boost sales compared to only trading at shops,” she said.
Antique collector Jaludin Amat, teacher Norafzannizah Mortada and Rosini Mohamad gave the thumbs up to the craft festival with itsqualityproducts.Hafizaddedthat the festival is one way to promote and market Malaysian products locally besides encouraging youths to take up handicraft.
Various activities being held until Sunday include promotion of courses by National Craft Institute, craft making demonstration, workshop and craft education and musical performances on weekends. A similar festival will be held in Miri in the middle of this year.