MUKAH: Some 30 participants attended a Melanau handicraft-making workshop at the Kampung Tellian Daya multi-purpose hall yesterday.
The one-day ‘Aluih pa’a a dana’ (fine hands of the experienced) workshop was the first of its kind organised by Pertubuhan Impian Mukah.
It involved the making of a Melanau male bulieng (headgear), i’d (handy fan made from sago and nipah palm leaves), upak (containers of various shapes and sizes made from sago palm branch), atep (chopsticks made from the stalk of sago palm leaves), face mask (made from sago palm branch) and jengayak (human-shaped miniature made from nipah palm leaves).
Organising chairman Lyona Stephen said the main objective of the workshop was to preserve the rich Melanau cultural heritage for the benefit of the present generation.
She added that the workshop, which helped revive handicraft-making skills, was also aimed at fostering the spirit of cooperation between the older and younger generation.
Lyona hoped that the Melanau handicrafts could be promoted as tourist attraction.
Guest of honour Mukah MP Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib was impressed with the encouraging response from the participants, including from nearby villagers.
Also present at the event were Tellian assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo and ketua kaum William Joseph Laju.
