SIBU: When Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg stepped onto the stage wearing an Iban selampai handcrafted by Sati Juntong, the moment was one the artisan will cherish for the rest of her life.
For the part-time handicraft maker, being entrusted to produce the ceremonial selampai worn by the Premier during the launch of the Sarawakku Sayang programme here today (July 11) was both an honour and a dream come true.
“It was a great honour that my handicraft was presented to the Premier. It was a very touching and memorable moment for me,” she said at her booth during the programme.
Sati admitted that she was initially in disbelief when she received word that the Sibu Resident’s Office had chosen her to make the selampai.
“At the outset, I couldn’t believe that the Sibu Resident’s Office wanted me to make a selampai for the Premier to wear at the launch of the Sarawakku Sayang programme here.
That was in early June and I completed it in one month,” she said.
Although she has been producing traditional handicrafts for many years, Sati said she had always done it on a part-time basis.
“I have been making handicrafts since my teenage years, although I usually do it on a part-time basis. I make different types of items, and each piece takes time to complete. Some can be finished within a month, while more intricate designs take even longer,” she explained.
During the three-day Sarawakku Sayang programme, Sati also displayed her handmade products, which attracted visitors.
“I displayed my products yesterday (Friday), and many visitors stopped to look at them. Some were especially attracted to the bird designs,” she said.
A self-taught artisan, Sati said her passion for handicrafts began by observing the work of others before developing her own techniques through practice.
“I have always been interested in handicrafts. I learnt by observing friends, looking at photographs and practising on my own. Today, learning is much easier because we have Facebook, YouTube and even AI to provide ideas and tutorials. I often search these platforms for new designs and techniques,” she said.
Sati hopes opportunities such as the Sarawakku Sayang programme will help introduce more people to Sarawak’s rich indigenous handicrafts and encourage the young to appreciate and preserve the tradition.
