‘Not many young folk interested in the art of songket-making’
BELAWAI: Sarawak- produced songket continues to attract strong demand nationwide, but the industry is still facing difficulties in recruiting new talents.
Sa’anah Suhaili, a fourthgeneration songket- weaver working at Kumpulan Tenunan Songket Rajang ( Rajang Songket Weaving Group) centre located at Kampung Kuala Rajang here, contends that recruiting new weavers has been a challenge for the industry as most of those from the new generation are not interested in venturing into this field.
“The old generation like us are getting older as years go by and once we are no longer around, who will be supporting Sarawak local songket-weaving industry?
“Only those who have passion in the art would be interested in joining. The rest tend to continue pursuing their studies or venture into other industries.”
New trainees only have to undergo a six-month training at the centre, with allowance given before being allowed to produce songket.
“There has been strong demand for locally- produced songket such as from the nearby villages, Kuching, Peninsular Malaysia and at one time, even from Australia and New Zealand,” said Sa’anah.
She said with only eight active songket weavers at the centre and five weavers at a nearby place, they were unable to meet the demands for their songket and at times, would have to work extra hours to finish the orders.
When asked on the use of songkets, Sa’anah said the fabric is usually worn by public figures when attending official functions, and also by many during marriage ceremonies.
Depending on the complexity of the motifs, she said one piece of songket would take between one and four months to complete.
“Previously, our songket was priced from RM800 onwards, but now the price has increased to RM900 onwards, as the raw materials are getting more expensive.”
However, Sa’anah felt that one
The old generation like us are getting older as years go by and once we are no longer around, who will be supporting Sarawak local songket-weaving industry? Only those who have passion in the art would be interested in joining. The rest tend to continue pursuing their studies or venture into other industries. Sa’anah Suhaili, fourth-generation songket-weaver
should not consider the songket as being expensive, as the prices ref lected the quality and the workmanship put into producing them.
“For customers who appreciate art, they would understand that our songket is of good quality,” she said, pointing out that the raw materials including threads are mostly sourced from Terengganu.
Nonetheless, she was grateful to the then- Housing Minister, the present Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for his foresight in granting the group RM500,000 for the setting- up of the centre at Kampung Kuala Rajang.
Rajang Songket Weaving Group was established in April 1991. It used to operate inside two classrooms at SK Abang Galau’s old building for three years before eventually moving to the present site, which could accommodate a larger number of songket-weavers.