TATAU (April 17): The locals must utilise their craftsmanship to generate supplementary income for families, said Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai.

He said that to get access to resources and marketing opportunities, craft practitioners must register with the Sarawak Craft Council and Malaysia Craft Council.

“Crafting, if not continued, will disappear with time,” Sikie said during the closing ceremony of the Community Empowerment Programme @UniMadani Phase 2 organised by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) at Rumah Banyang, Rantau Aur, Tekalit Tatau recently.

The Kakus assemblyman said the programme should continue with funding channeled by the Ministry of Finance, especially in the Kakus area, and involve various communities including the Malays, Melanau, Iban, Chinese, Orang Ulu, and others who are rich in craftsmanship.

The event, which showcased bamboo craft sustainability in Nanga Tekalit, highlighted the pivotal role of preserving traditional artistry in modern times.

According to him, craftsmanship presents a viable means for rural households ― especially women ― to contribute to the family income.

“Many housewives who take care of their children or grandchildren should use their time to earn side income by creating various crafts, whether from beads, bamboo, or other forest resources,” he said.

He also encouraged the use of online platforms, leveraging the area’s improved internet connectivity to reach both national and international markets.

Earlier, Unimas Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Industry, Community and Sustainability Network), Professor Noraziah Abdul Wahab, said as a Community-Driven University, Unimas is committed to its mission to serve and contribute to community development.

“Our university is located in the heart of Borneo ― the richest site in the world for biodiversity and indigenous knowledge.

“This advantage makes Unimas a leader in empowering communities, fostering creativity, and pioneering innovations for a more sustainable world,” she said.

The ‘Kraf Bagiau Project’ was selected as one of the initiatives under the Public University Community Empowerment Programme (Community@UniMADANI) by the Ministry of Finance.

The programme also celebrated Unimas’s active role in preserving the cultural heritage of the Dayak community.

Through hands-on workshops, local artisans were trained to combine traditional bamboo weaving techniques with modern designs, ensuring competitiveness in contemporary markets.

Additionally, Unimas introduced sustainable bamboo harvesting practices and supported branding and online marketing efforts.

During the event, Sikie announced a Minor Rural Project (MRP) grant of RM20,000 for the Rumah Banyang Village Security and Development Committee.

Unimas also contributed a bamboo splitting and slicing machine to assist local craftsmen in enhancing productivity.

For the record, the Tekalit community actively engages in craft production, not only using Engkalat bamboo but also bemban, rattan, wood, and more.

Among the products created are beadwork, ‘burie’ cloth, ‘sintung’, mats, ‘tangi biru’, ‘kedapi’, ‘ma’, ‘raga’, ‘lanji’, ‘sumpit’, ‘baju gagung’, baskets, and more.