We thank our State Government and Chief Minister of Sarawak for the newly announced Heritage, Arts and Culture Facilitation Fund which has RM10 million worth of grants and assistance to those involved in the creative arts industry in Sarawak.
Our Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture will therefore be looking into rolling out grants and assistance to local creative arts members in Sarawak and we will see on how the funds can be disbursed out as well on who can apply and be entitled to the funds. We are still looking into it because it has just been announced. The setting up of the fund had reflected on the state government’s concern and support towards the state’s heritage, arts and culture by putting aside a certain amount to be given out to those in the industry.
Our Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had announced this in his Sarawak Budget 2022 statement held on October 12 and the state government is also looking to help traditional hand-woven textile weavers in Sarawak to go mainstream and participate in the fashion world.
As handlooms are still in existence in Sarawak and thriving, the local cottage industry should get the support it needs as the people of Sarawak are well known for such wonderful unqiue crafts. The Ibans and Malays communities take pride in their heirlooms such Pua Kumbu, Songket, and Keringkam, with many local folks are still practising traditional techniques on traditional equipment.
I have noted locally organised events such as "Tenun Fashion Week 2021" are serving as good platforms to promote Sarawakian hand-woven textiles and thus, our local weavers should find innovative ways to promote their handiworks. For the record, Tenun Fashion Week 2021 was jointly organised by the Asean Handicra Promotion and Development Association (Ahpada) and Tanoti, and supported by Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak (MTAC) and Maybank Foundation through its Maybank Women Eco Weavers Programme.
The transformation of the products is impressive and I have the utmost respect for the weavers who dedicated towards preserving the knowledge and skills of their ancestors, yet brave enough to experiment, innovate, and commercialise their textiles.
It was a pleasure for me to meet our Pua Kumbu master weaver, Puan Bangie Embol from Rumah Gare Tinggang in Sungai Kain, Ulu Kapit, who has achieved international acclaim for her work Bangie had led her longhouse folks through the rituals and practice of pua kumbu weaving and invented natural dyes from plants found in the forests, armed only with mentorship from a line of master weavers.
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