Terengganu's Mengkuang, Songket Craft Achieve Rm30,000 Sales At Madani East Zone Programme

KUANTAN, July 7 (Bernama) -- The beauty of Terengganu's kelarai motif, translated into various mengkuang and songket-based products, attracted significant attention at the 2024 MADANI Rakyat East Zone programme at Dataran Sayangi Kuantan, with sales of over RM30,000.

Craft entrepreneur Zaitun Abas, 51, shared that the crafts produced with her village community in Pasir Raja, Dungun, Terengganu easily met their sales target at the three-day event.

Based at the Central Terengganu Development Authority (Ketengah) booth, the mother of two expressed surprise at the positive reception, noting that the best-selling items were woven mengkuang file bags and songket handbags for women.

“Previously, we only marketed them locally and sales were disappointing. However, after joining Ketengah, they have taken us to various promotional events, and sales have been excellent.

"Just yesterday, our village's woven products, priced between RM10 and RM300, sold for RM20,000 in a single day. We also received orders to produce more mengkuang file bags and innovatively designed songket handbags for women," she told Bernama today.

“We produce various types of kelarai to create products such as mats, women's handbags, smartphone pouches, prayer bags, and more, including beras patah kelarai, tepak sirih kelarai, and sisek bani kelarai,” said Zaitun, who inherited the skill from her mother.

“Traditional kelarai motifs are similar to abstract patterns. Based on these traditional patterns, we innovate the design and colour according to current trends to ensure the continuous appeal of this heritage product, especially to young people. For instance, kelarai mats have a contemporary look,” she elaborated.

Zaitun and the other craft entrepreneurs drew attention to their booth by mengkuang weaving demonstrations, giving young people insight into this creative national heritage. 

Not wanting to miss the opportunity to acquire Terengganu crafts, private executive Saliha Zainuddin, 35, said that such platforms not only invigorate the national craft industry but also make it easier for enthusiasts to acquire items from Pahang, Kelantan, and Terengganu, all under one roof.

“When there are exhibitions like this, they can highlight the uniqueness of the country's weaving arts to visitors, raising awareness of how beautiful local crafts are. This is indeed one way to promote village craft products to ensure they endure,” said Saliha, who purchased a mengkuang weave smartphone pouch.

-- BERNAMA