Mariwasa's Honorary Awards Crafted With Care And Dedication

She has every reason to feel that way as the decorations are produced by her company Mariwasa Kraftangan Sdn Bhd, designed and crafted by her team of dedicated artisans. Their skilled workmanship is evident in the smallest detail etched into each medal right up to the perfectly finished product.

This is why Putri Rafidah feels frustrated whenever she comes across reports of individuals receiving fake titles or awards through improper channels.

“The honorary medals (conferred during investiture ceremonies) are not easy to produce and are not meant for just any person.

“They are symbols of an individual’s contributions and services to the nation and their community, and awarded only to those deemed worthy,” the Mariwasa chief executive officer said during an interview with Bernama at its factory premises here recently.

 

According to Putri Rafidah, Mariwasa was set up in 1975 and was taken over by Megat Mohamad Abdul Wahab Megat Abu Bakar – the current owner of the company – 10 years later when the company run into financial problems.

Megat Mohamad Abdul Wahab managed to turn the company around after receiving orders for honorary medals and decorations from the federal and state governments.

Mariwasa, now a leading manufacturer of awards and decorations for the federal government and nearly all state governments in Malaysia, also became a subcontractor for a prominent brand in England, producing decorations for the governments of Oman and Kuwait. It also supplies decorations to the Maldives government.

From its humble beginnings when it operated out of a shop lot, Mariwasa now has two well-equipped factories, both located in Kuala Kangsar.

“(Over the years) the company has also diversified its offerings to include uniform accessories, handicrafts, silverware, jewellery and various metal-based products including souvenirs and (specially commissioned) gift items made from costly metals such as gold and silver.

“We are also collaborating with companies from England, Germany, Austria and Italy to supply premium banqueting items and interior decorations (produced by Mariwasa), catering to clients such as royal palaces and dignitaries,” said Putri Rafidah.

She added that Mariwasa has also designed and produced uniforms and accessories such as badges, collar badges and buttons for several government departments and agencies.

“We have also been entrusted with managing various royal ceremonies at palaces, ranging from engagement and wedding events to birthdays and even funerals,” she said, adding Mariwasa has 110 employees, all Malaysians, who she described as the “lifeblood of our company”.

She said most of their employees started with zero skills but have become skilled workers through the training provided to them.

“We encourage our employees to continue working even after reaching retirement age, as long as they are capable of contributing to the company. Some of them are 75 years old and are still able to contribute their energy and skills,” she added.

 

Putri Rafidah also said every item produced by the company is bespoke – specially crafted to suit the tastes and needs of their clients.

The company also provides after-sales services to ensure customer satisfaction.

“For example, for medals and decorations (for investiture ceremonies), we take the measurements of the sash for each recipient on rehearsal day. We do this because each award recipient has a different measurement… and we take pride and satisfaction in ensuring that the medal fits perfectly on the wearer,” she said.

She said the company staff also provides assistance on the day of the award ceremony, adding, “I believe this service is only offered by our company.”

The production process for the medals begins with the preparation of the moulds for various designs as well as 3D drawings in software and 3D metal modelling, followed by medal stamping, laser cutting, polishing and finally packaging the finished products.

While the medals are hand-crafted and hand-finished, the more complex part of the production work is carried out with the help of high-tech tooling and cutting techniques, with the machines imported from Germany at a cost of RM1.4 million.

Putri Rafidah also explained that the medal designs and decorations are based on the specifications and identity of the state concerned, as well as special requests from clients.

“For example, a recent Pahang honorary medal we crafted was inspired by Her Royal Highness Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah, who requested the inclusion of elements like the coffee flower and symbols of the state’s previous sultans.

“For Kedah, (the honorary medal) features the bunga padi symbol, while for Perak, the medal has nine points to represent the nine districts of the state when the medal was first introduced,” she said.

She also said the metal or type of precious stone used to produce and embellish the medals would depend on clients’ requests. Usually, gold or diamonds would be requested for the highest-ranking medals, and copper or rhodium for lower-ranking medals.

“A new order takes at least three months to complete. However, if there is a request to speed up the process, we accept the challenge. For example, for a recent investiture ceremony in Pahang, we had only 30 days to complete the design (and production) from scratch. But, with the commitment of our staff, we were able to finish it on time,” she said.

As for the company’s future plans, Putri Rafidah said they plan to transform Mariwasa into an innovative company that utilises advanced technology while preserving traditional craftsmanship values and safeguarding the nation’s heritage.

“And, as skilled artisans are becoming increasingly rare, we plan to establish training centres (to help them hone their skills) and job opportunities to ensure they have a good future,” she added.

 

-- BERNAMA 

 

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