Legacy Of Juma’ani Woven Into Every Thread: Sarawak’s Songket & Keringkam Continue To Inspire A New Generation
KUCHING: Sarawak’s traditional textile heritage continues to be strengthened as the legacy of love left behind by the late Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang lives on through the revival of songket and keringkam.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, described songket and keringkam as “threads of memory” that connect generations, preserve family stories and stand as symbols of Malay dignity and identity.
“She not only elevated songket and keringkam, but breathed new lie into a heritage that was once at risk of fading.
“Every thread woven today carries her legacy of love,” he said during the handover ceremony of the book “The Reviva of Sarawak Songket and Keringkam: Honouring Datuk Amar Juma’ani” to the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, at the Dewan Santapan of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex on Thursday.
Dato Sri Abdul Karim added that the publication of the book is not merely documentation, but an expression of gratitude and a commitment to continue the late Datuk Amar Juma’ani’s work.
He also noted that since the introduction of the Sarawak Heritage Innovation Project in 2018, efforts to uplift singlet and keringkam have grown into a comprehensive ecosystem.
“As of 2025, a total of 1,022 weavers and embroiderers have been successfully trained in Kuching, Samarahan, Gedong, Betong, Sibu, Rajang, Limbang and Lawas,” he said.
Dato Sri Abdul Karim further highlighted the government’s determination, through the Sarawak Craft Council, CENTEX and various agencies, to ensure that songket and keying jam continue to flourish as catalysts for the local creative economy, cultural tourism, and community economic empowerment.
Meanwhile, daughter of the Premier of Sarawak, Dayang Norjihan, shared that her late mother had specially commissioned a collection of keringkam pieces for her since before her birth, intended as wedding attire, heirlooms of love, and treasures to be passed down within the family.
During the event, the Premier and his daughter also visited the Keringkam and Premium Fabric Exhibition at Sri Kenyalang.
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premiers, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Sarawak Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohammad Abu Bakar Marzuki, and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews
