KUCHING: Sarawak’s craft industry is more than a cultural treasure – it is a force that binds communities, generates livelihoods, and elevates the state’s standing on the world stage.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this in his speech at the Aidilfitri and Pre-Gawai Fellowship Dinner 2026 organised by the Sarawak Craft Council on Friday (May 8).
His speech was delivered by Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
In the speech, Abdul Karim laid out a three-pronged vision for the craft sector, anchored on unity, economic growth and national identity.
Drawing on Sarawak’s remarkable diversity of 34 ethnic groups, he said craft has long served as a bridge between communities.
“Through exhibitions, workshops and craft programmes, we do not only share skills – we build bonds of understanding and harmony between communities.
“This is where craft plays a vital role in nurturing unity, mutual respect, and understanding,” he said.
He also highlighted the craft industry’s expanding commercial potential, noting that local products now command value not just at home but in international markets as well.
He called on the Sarawak Craft Council to accelerate the registration of artisans across the state, revealing that while approximately 1,500 practitioners are currently on record, many more – particularly in rural and interior areas – remain unregistered and unreached.
On the global stage, Abdul Karim stressed the urgency of protecting Sarawak’s craft products through Intellectual Property (IP) registration and Geographical Indication (GI) status, warning that failure to do so could leave local designs vulnerable to being claimed by other parties abroad.
“When our craft is elevated to the national and global stage, it enhances the image and reputation of Sarawak as a premier centre of cultural heritage. But we must protect what is ours,” he added.
He also called on artisans to raise the quality of their products and compete with international benchmarks, citing the high standard of craft goods he observed at a recent expo in Indonesia.
Closing his remarks, he urged all stakeholders to stand together in empowering the craft industry – “as a heritage that unites our communities, as a source of sustainable economic growth, and as a symbol of our state’s pride that we must defend together”.
