‘Nurture craft of Sarawak songket weaving’
KUCHING: The future looks bright for Sarawak songket-weaving as the young people are interested in the craft, says Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.
“I visited Tanoti House this morning and I have promised to fund their training for young girls. This is very important, as having young girls interested in weaving means there is a future for the Sarawak songket,” he said when met at the Kuching International Airport prior to his 2.35pm f light back to Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Tanoti houses a community of Sarawakian artisans dedicated to practising the ancient craft of Sarawak songket weaving, using the supplementary weft technique.
Nazri was on a three- day working visit to the state with a delegation from Tourism Malaysia in conjunction with the Gawai celebration.
I am pleased with the overall progress of tourism and culture in the state. Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, Tourism and Culture Minister
“I came for Gawai, after promising to come back during the recent state election campaigning period. I visited all the Bidayuh areas this time, namely Annah Rais, Kampung Belimbing and Kampung Gumbang. I noticed that there were festivals and rituals of the Bidayuh that must be preserved, with culture and tourism being closely related.
“I am pleased with the overall progress of tourism and culture in the state,” he said.
He added that he would return in late July and be visiting other areas in the state, likely to focus on Iban and Orang Ulu areas.