SEB collaborates with MHDC to enhance Penan handicrafts

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All are happy to participate at the Festival Kraft Sarawak.

All are happy to participate at the Festival Kraft Sarawak.

KUCHING: The marketability of handicrafts from the Murum resettlement area has gone up a notch after Penan artisans from the area undertook trainings organised by Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) to diversify and improve the quality of their handcrafted products.

During the training, the craftsmen were given exposure to new ideas and design concepts on rattan weaving, the art of sewing as well as proper finishing techniques of parang(machete) making.

A press statement issued by SEB yesterday said: “The artisans honed their skills over two workshops held in May and November at Long Wat, Tegulang Resettlement Area in Murum. The programme was developed under Sarawak Energy’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative in partnership with the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (MHDC).”

Parang-makers learnt how to apply gloss and polishing techniques to embellish the traditional machete whilst rattan weavers were taught how to refashion their woven products into bags and vanity cases.

The final products were later showcased at the Festival Kraft Sarawak held in Miri and Bintulu recently.

The events served as an ideal platform to highlight the craftsmen’s talent among the local handicraft industry scene and provided networking opportunities with the other players of the industry.

For some of the craftsmen, it was their first exposure to marketing of their crafts to the public.

According to Joanne Tan, SEB’s CSR manager for Social Investment: “The skills possessed by the Penan craftsmen in handicraft making is already tremendous.

Enhancing the marketability of their crafts by exposing them through the workshops and exhibitions means that they can sell more of what they produce, improving their income opportunities whilst still ensuring that their culture and heritage are preserved.

“We are happy to have established this working relationship with the Penan community from Murum and look forward to collaborations with other agencies to improve the socio-economic opportunities of the community.”

SEB has actively supported handicraft production of the Penans in Murum by purchasing and offering these crafts as exclusive gifts for the company’s corporate guests both international and local.