GEDONG: Her Royal Highness (KDPB) Tengku Ampuan Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, has called for the establishment of a Sarawak Songket Institute to preserve and strengthen the state’s traditional weaving heritage.

Her Royal Highness said that the increasing number of songket producers in Sarawak in recent years reflects a positive development in efforts to elevate local artistic heritage, particularly with the involvement of young people and women.

She stressed the importance of introducing a formal learning syllabus to ensure that the art of weaving can be passed down to the younger generation.

“This is a cottage industry that we want to encourage, so that young people can develop a new kind of business.

“It is also to ensure that the art of weaving does not simply fade away for future generations, because it is a treasured heritage of the state of Sarawak,” she said.

Her Royal Highness said this when speaking to the media during her visit to Seri Gedong Songket in Kampung Kanchong Baru, Gedong, on Saturday.

Also in attendance was His Royal Highness (KDYMM) Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah.

In her royal address, Tunku Azizah also expressed that the art of weaving is a symbol of kinship and regional identity shared among Southeast Asian nations.

She added that weaving strengthens ties between herself and Sarawak, as well as with countries such as Cambodia and Thailand.

“The patterns may be different or the designs may vary, but it is the threads that bind us together in the Malay Nusantara region,” she said.

The Sultan and Tengku Ampuan of Pahang spent nearly an hour at Seri Gedong Songket to observe the production of songket, including other crafts such as woven bags and bead loom work.

Their Majesties arrived at 11.10 a.m. and were welcomed by the Menteri Besar of Pahang, Dato’ Sri Diraja Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Sarawak Premier’s daughter, Dayang Norjihan Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari, Sarawak Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr. Hazland Abang Hipni, as well as other dignitaries.

After their visit to Seri Gedong Songket, Their Majesties proceeded to attend the Royal Banquet held at Dewan Datuk Patinggi Ali. -UKASnews

Reporter: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Translator: Uilson Ng
Photographer: Muhd Hanif Suhaimi