Jamit (seated, centre) in a photo-call with the participants. With the assemblyman are (seated, from second left) Mala, Abang Hamzah, Ambrose and Edward.
KAPIT: This district should have a handicraft centre for local artisans to exhibit and promote their products to the visitors here.
According to Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat, Kapit is famous for its exquisite handicrafts such as the Pua Kumbu, beadwork and intricate wood carvings.
“These products have high artistic and cultural value, and can fetch high prices as well. As such, a full-fledged handicraft centre here would serve as the platform for these locally-crafted products to be exhibited and in turn, generate income for the locals,” he said after the opening of a ‘Creative Craft Skills Improvement Programme’ run by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) office for Kapit parliamentary constituency at Kampung Muhibbah community hall near Jalan Bletih here on Saturday.
Adding on, Jamit said it was not enough for local artisans to only have the skills and artistry to produce their products.
“Equally important is the knowledge to market these products. There are many success stories about housewives earning good income via online business. They create Facebook (pages) to exhibit their products – a marketing move that has proven to be successful as it reaches a wider audience than having a physical shop or gallery.
“Online business is truly borderless, and I encourage more to venture into it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the assemblyman commended Kapit KPWKM, under the leadership of Datin Angelina Ujang, for being very pro-active in organising various activities to enhance and empower the local womenfolk.
“This programme, for instance, empowers the participants by not only providing them with the skills, but also instilling in them a lifelong learning culture to improve themselves. I can see that the participants here have learned how to make cushions for home and cars. Put this into practice and find ways to make money out of it. What’s important is that the end products must be attractive and also affordable for sale,” he said.
The ceremony on Saturday was also attended by Kapit KPWKM secretary Ambrose Abong Bugek, PBB Bukit Goram secretary Edward Manggah, Majlis Amanah Rakyat representative Mala Sugit and local community leader Penghulu Abang Hamzah Bolhasan.