Sal leaf weaving industry faces shortage of artisans
Not many young people are interested in learning this skill due to the time required and the high level of patience.
DUNGUN - Sal leaf weaving might not be as well-known as other craft industries in the country such as wood carving, copper work or batik but it surely has its own special charm and identity, requiring a high level of hand skills to create a product.
In Malaysia, the sal leaf weaving industry is believed to be over 100 years old and exclusive to Kampung Paka in Dungun.
According to Zalila Hussin, 64, a sal leaf entrepreneur from Kampung Cacar, she inherited this skill from her late mother.
She said that among the products she makes are egg holders, placemats, gift boxes, wall decorations, and various sizes of food covers, all in various colours and adorned with different motifs.
"Sal leaf weaving was once the main handicraft activity for women in Kampung Paka. At the age of 14, I was already skilled in making food covers which I learned from my mother every day," she said during the Media Engagement Programme to Observe Craft Industry Developments in Terengganu at Balai Raya Kampung Gong Gemia, Paka here recently.
Elaborating further, Zalila said that the industry is a dying one as not many young people are interested in learning this skill.
According to her, this is due to the time required and the high level of patience needed as the process of creating sal leaf crafts is an intricate and lengthy one.
"Unlike other crafts, the entire process of producing sal leaf weaving products, from collecting the leaves from the sal tree to the actual weaving, is done manually without the aid of machines.
"The process is also lengthy. For instance, creating a food cover takes between two to three weeks," said Zalila, who is also an instructor for sal leaf weaving courses organised by the Terengganu branch of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia).
Zalila said that sal leaf craft products, especially food covers, are in high demand from customers not only from within the country but abroad.
However, the lack of successors in this trade means that not many products can be produced at any one time.
She said currently there are only three sal leaf craft artisans in Kampung Paka, and all of them are elderly.
"In 2010, I participated in an expo in Singapore organised by a government agency. An African entrepreneur, captivated by the uniqueness and fine craftsmanship of the sal leaf crafts, was interested in buying a container of food covers to market in his country.
"Unfortunately, I could not accept the offer because there was not enough manpower to fulfil the order in a short time," she said, expressing hope that such new artisans will emerge in the future. - BERNAMA
