Finding their passion in craftmaking

WHEN it comes to having a chance to showcase their handiwork, the 12-day Johor Craft Festival offers an excellent platform for artisans from the state to promote their products.

The festival, held at Angsana Mall Johor Baru from Dec 20, 2023 to Jan 1, 2024, had over 100 booths, bringing together craftsmen in various disciplines such as textiles, woodwork, metal-based crafts, earthenware and miscellaneous crafts.

Kraftangan Malaysia Johor director Noor Azima Mohd Alwi said the festival, which was in its 10th year, offered an opportunity for skilled entrepreneurs and artisans to market and promote their products to the masses.

Apart from product sales and performances, the festival also showcased wood carving demonstrations and batik painting booths.

“During the festival, Johor gambus maker Halidan Ithnin was one of five artisans who received the ‘Adiguru’ title for being a master of their craft.

“This was also the first time that a maker of the gambus, which is a traditional musical instrument closely linked to Johor, has received such a recognition,” said Noor Azima.

The festival also offered a chance for craftspeople, some of whom have only recently picked up the skills, to gain wider exposure for their products and teach young people about traditional crafts.

Noor Azima says those who register with Kraftangan Malaysia can join training sessions and workshops.

From F&B to batik

Among the many artisans at the festival was 38-year-old batik maker Khatijah Mohamad, who runs her own textile business from her home in Felda Maokil, Segamat.

Khatijah only entered the craft-making industry two years ago, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when her restaurant business became unsustainable.

“I used to operate a restaurant in a village in the town of Labis, until the pandemic hit.

“I had little to no sales or catering orders during that period because customers were not allowed to dine-in or hold events.

“I was at a low point in my life as I was worried about my livelihood,” she told StarMetro.

Thankfully, opportunity came in the form of government agency Kraftangan Malaysia, which held a Felda community handicraft training workshop.

It was then that Khatijah discovered her interest in batik-making, so much so she took about a year to continue undergoing training to hone her skills.

After discussing it with her husband, Khatijah decided to give up her food business in 2022.

“I never expected that in my mid-30s, I could still switch careers and go into batik-making full-time when I saw a gap in the market for Johor-made batik.

“When you mention Malaysian batik, people usually think of Kelantan and Terengganu.

“I want to change that perception and help strengthen Johor’s position as a batik producer.

“I want to show the locals and tourists that Johor also has its own unique batik prints that showcase the state’s identity and history such as black pepper and pineapples,” she said.

Khatijah said that another batik print popular among her customers was the buah berembang pattern, taking after the mangrove apple that grows in Batu Pahat and Muar.

She said her batik textiles were produced at her home workshop in Felda Maokil, using hand-drawn and block printing techniques.

She has also been actively sharing her batik knowledge with the younger generation to get them excited about continuing the traditional craft.

“I am happy to work with government agencies or in my own efforts to reach out to others to spread the beauty of Malaysian batik.

“I don’t want this artform to vanish,” she said.

Under Kraftangan Malaysia’s wing, the mother-of-three said she had been able to participate in craft fairs in Klang Valley and Perak where her batik prints were a hit among the visitors.

Last year she won third place in Piala Sri Pahang batik competition, in her first-ever attempt.

“At the fairs and events, many were surprised to learn that Johor also has its own batik prints.

“I believe I can play a role in promoting Johor-made batik products. It is my pride as a Johorean to do so.

“My hope is that one day, tourists in the state will take at least a piece of Johor batik as a souvenir when they return home,” she added.

Batik-maker Khatijah used to run a restaurant before switching paths after finding her love — and calling — in the crafts industry.

Needlework passion

Another person at the festival who turned to making crafts after her livelihood was affected by the pandemic is tour guide Femy Yong.

The 42-year-old decided to turn her needlework pastime into an alternative source of income when tourism activities came to a standstill in 2020.

She said her mother sewed clothes for a living while she was growing up and that was where she picked up her skills from.

“I stitched patchwork blankets for more than a decade before deciding to try making other products using batik textile.

“As a tour guide, I am no stranger to Malaysian batik as I am required to wear the prints while on the job,” said Yong, who is from Senai.

“I had the idea of making batik products as a different way of promoting Johor and Malaysia to others, not just tourists.

“Malaysian batik is a hit among foreigners and surprisingly, many locals actually do not know much about our very own batik designs, so I usually take time to explain its unique features to them,” she said.

At first, she made tissue pouches using batik cloth that she purchased from local batik-makers.

Wong (left) makes handmade products using batik from Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu, which supplements her income.

The products were well-received and customers began asking her to make other items, so Yong started producing hair accessories, bags, coin purses, book sleeves and mobile phone pouches from scratch.

She makes them with batik from Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu.

“Without experience, I started from the bottom by participating in small craft fairs…I even struggled to set up a folding table at first.

“I feel happy whenever people stop by my stall and when they are willing to listen to my sharing about the batik prints.

“Even if they do not end up purchasing any item from me, I feel satisfied that I have imparted some information to them; I think that comes from my nature as a tour guide,” the mother-of-two quipped.

Yong said she now juggled between her job as a guide and completing the handicrafts to be sold online and at craft exhibitions.

“I started doing needlework when I was 20 years old and I feel privileged that I could do it as a hobby, and now it has become another source of income for me.

“It also helped me appreciate my mother more as she did not have a choice back then and could only depend on sewing clothes to earn money to raise her family,” she added.

Sharpening skills for the future

Jeremy (right) has been diligently learning woodcarving from his uncle A. Samri (left) to prevent the art from dying out.

Meanwhile, budding wood craftsman Jeremy Ryl, 23, is diligently sharpening his skills in hopes of making it his career, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle.

He was one of several artisans from other states participating in the festival.

The youth, who is from the Orang Asli Mah Meri tribe, said he started learning wood carving when he was 21.

“For as long as I can remember, my father was busy with woodworking while I was growing up in our village in Pulau Carey, Selangor.

“He makes wood products such as traditional Mah Meri statues and masks that showcase our tribe’s culture and history.

“I feel that the skill is something that we should preserve.

“Although it is hard work, I want to pick it up and make sure the tradition is passed down to the next generation,” he said, adding that he is the only one out of five siblings who have taken an interest in wood carving.

Jeremy said wood carving was a difficult skill to learn and he kept making mistakes at first.

“After cutting a block of wood into the desired size, we have to slowly carve away the edges to shape it. It requires a lot of focus and patience to carve the details to make it look lively.

“It is tougher than it looks, but I enjoy it,” he said.

Jeremy said he was currently learning from his uncle A. Samri Abdul Rahman, who received the title of “Adiguru Kraf Ukiran Patung Mah Meri” (Master craftsman in Mah Meri statue carving) in 2021 from Kraftangan Malaysia.

“I get to tag along with him when he gets invited to showcase his skills at events around the country, which gives us a chance to promote our culture to others.

“It is a privilege to learn from the best in the industry and I will persevere and hopefully take the craft to the next level in the future.

“I still have a long way to go but I hope to carry on my father’s traditional craft business and also preserve my village’s unique culture by doing so,” he added.

Noor Azima urged local craftsmen and craftswomen to register with Kraftangan Malaysia.

She said this would enable them to join various workshops to improve their skills, aside from opportunities to participate in exhibitions all over the country.

“As of November 2023, there were 6,734 registered entrepreneurs under us nationwide and where 232 of them were from Johor,” she added.

Johor Craft Complex is located on Jalan Cenderasari off Jalan Datin Halimah in Larkin, Johor Baru. For further details, call 07-235 0433.