No magic to success but hard work, trainees told
Published on: Sunday, November 10, 2019
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“If you want to succeed in life, you will need to work hard to learn from the many successful people around you. I encourage our young and energetic trainees to share your great ideas, enabling yourself to further your thinking in the creation of creative ideas and products,” he said at the closing ceremony of Pusat Kraftangan Sabah (PKS) Open Day.
There was also the presentation of Certificate of Completion to 69 trainees of the Handicraft Training Programme (PLK) at PKS, Keningau on Nov 4.
This year, a total of 23 people participated in the Start-Up Programme and five others participated in the Scale-Up Programme, receiving assistance from the Federal Government. Participants are guided on how to start a business through the Technical Advisory Service Programme.
Yayasan Sabah Group has its very own Unik Entrepreneurs. Unik is a synonym for craft business industry entrepreneurs, and is a platform for all PKS-supervised entrepreneurs in becoming successful entrepreneurs. PKS has trained 57 participants in the Start-Up Programme since 2017 and 5 Scale-Up Programme participants in 2019.
Jamalul, who himself a connoisseur of local arts and crafts, further shared his tips on being successful with the PLK trainees, “Those of us in Sabah are often left behind compared to those in the Peninsular. Those of us who are quite comfortable at the present level has a habit of being stagnant, afraid to try something new nor being inventive.”
“Being complacent to one’s comfort zone will lead to the sterility of ideas which later will develop into being counterproductive.
“We fear failure when we try something out of our expertise and field. It is this sort of attitude that causes regressing instead of progressing. It is not wrong to try something fresh and outside of our comfort zone. Getting out of the comfort zone is the first step to achieving greater success,” he said.
According to him, Sabah is well-known for being a tourist attraction rich in nature, especially the islands, oceans, wilderness and the beautiful Mount Kinabalu, only in Sabah.
“Of course, with these advantages, many tourists will visit Sabah. If you can further increase the production of these world-class products, then surely your products will be able to enter the market in other states such as Sarawak, thus, increasing the sales of our craft products.”
He further stressed that successful people are willing to do anything and are willing to learn from mistakes.
“Don’t give up when you see failure. Remember the quote on the 1,000 ways of doing something and one million excuses if you don’t. Hard work is the source of all success, and laziness is the cause of all failure. Do not stop and keep yourselves motivated,” he urged the trainees.
He assured that Yayasan Sabah Group through PKS will continue to produce competitive human capital in handicraft production to enhance the socioeconomic livelihood of the local community, especially rural youth.
All the course participants are very pleased with the knowledge they have learned and they also said that they obtained the various handicraft and furniture techniques from the course can be applied to create business and generate income in the future.
Jublinah Tetus, 44, from Kg Sagindai, Ranau is one of the trainees who completed her handicraft course at PKS.
Throughout her training at PKS, she took up a speciality of rattan weaving. While she joined the course, she has produced a variety of furniture and handicrafts made from rattan.
“At first, it was a bit difficult for me to learn rattan weaving techniques. However, after practising and taking courses at PKS, I became very proficient at weaving techniques and produced a wide variety of furniture and handicrafts,” she said.
According to Jublinah, the duration of the course needs to be extended so that all participants can learn more inputs and other skills. “The practical learning process that led by the PKS is beneficial as it allows the trainees to learn the weaving techniques directly and apply to produce the furniture,” she added.
She thanked PKS for the opportunity they provided with organising the course. “I will strive to harness the skills I learned to become a successful furniture entrepreneur. Besides, I will also strive to learn more about rattan weaving,” she said.
“Besides, I will make this rattan weaving platform that I have learned to teach every single mother and housewife in my village. On the other hand, this will be their source of income with the sales of rattan furniture they have made.”
Siti Nurhayu binti Juman, 24, from Tambunan, who aims to open her own business specialising in ceramics. She hopes to improve the handicraft industry in Sabah at par with the development of craft in Peninsular Malaysia.
“I would like to enhance my knowledge in ceramic making, combining both traditional and contemporary (weaving and epoxy combinations) to contribute to the development of craft in our State. In terms of programme implementation, I recommend that the workshop should be well managed, especially improving project implementation. Scheduled projects and modules need to be implemented as specified. This is to enhance and improve the implementation of the PLK at PKS,” said Siti Nurhayu.
Meanwhile, Mohd Yafi Athis bin Rokoman, 18, from Kg Jaya, Keningau said:
“I have learned a new skill like weaving and many others. My suggestion on enhancing the PLK, among others, to promote unique handicraft creations and second, to extend the course duration. In the future, I plan to increase my experience in the field of ribu-ribu weaving and then to be a successful entrepreneur,” said Mohd Yafi.
Mohd. Tahfiz Akhbar bin Ag. Taaufick, 19, from Kg. Tudan Baru, Keningau completed a two-year PLK course on 4 November 2019. According to Mohd Tahfiz, he learned about PLK through his friend who was at that time a trainee in PKS.
“I chose to enrol in the Glass Block Craft Course because PKS is the only establishment in Sabah that offers such a course. After two years of being with PKS, I learned various techniques in product design, including the techniques of forming, cutting and polishing glass blocks,” Mohd Tahfiz said.
“I am aspiring to become a handicraft entrepreneur after finishing PLK. I realised that being an entrepreneur is not easy; it is a challenge. So I’m going to start business gradually until I have enough capital to rent a shop,” said Mohd. Tahfiz who hails from Kg Tudan Baru, Keningau and wishes to open a factory that would be the production centre for glass block craft products.
“The two years of experience being with PKS are invaluable, and I have acquired much knowledge,” said Mohd Tahfiz. He also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to PKS for allowing him to take the Glass Block Craft Course. At the same time, he also suggested that PKS offers advanced courses enabling trainees to sharpen their artistic craft.
“It’s not easy to master the art of glass block crafts, with more in-depth knowledge, the trainees can learn more from the masters at PKS.”
Nursalisah Azman, 25, also from Kg Tudan Baru attended PKS from March to October this year specialising in bead embroidery.
“After seven months of being here at PKS, I successfully acquired the art of bead making. These include glass beads, gems, and acrylic beads. Traditional beads made from shells, animal teeth and fruit seeds were taught to us as well,” she said.
Nursalisah also agonised over the current status quo of traditional handicraft making, “From time to time beads have traditionally symbolised one’s luxury and position. Beads are also taught hereditarily from mother to daughter. However, young people are now less interested in preserving this form of art, and this may well have a significant impact on the growth of traditional handicraft in Sabah.”
“I am very fortunate to acquire the bead embroidery skills from PKS. Against this backdrop, I hope PKS will continue teaching handicraft courses, thus maintaining traditional handicraft from going extinct. Secondly, to continue producing finely crafted artisans in churning-out quality Sabah handicrafts,” she said.
“I am determined to continue my handicraft education at PKS until I can stand on my own and able to open my own handicraft business.”
Having trained more than 20,000 people in the various art of handicraft making skills, PKS is by and large a catalyst for innovation and creativity with regards to Sabah’s handicraft industry and the preservation of centuries-old crafts. Speaking of the success of its handicrafts training programmes, PKS has now produced quality craftsmanship and products that we can all be proud. All big things have small beginnings, and that beginning starts with PKS.
PKS held its open day celebration from Nov 2-4 at its premise located at KM5, Jalan Apin-Apin, Keningau. The three-day event which include various activities, namely exhibitions and craft-based sales such as textiles, forest-produce, ceramics besides health and beauty products.
The open day played a pivotal role in strengthening the craft community in supporting PKS’ continued efforts in preserving the craft industry in the State. The event which has successfully cultured the community with the art of handicraft-making apart from encouraging the use of craft products within the community in their daily life and lifestyle.
A fashion show themed Sense of Sabah was also showcased involving eight local models. This hand-painted batik fashion has received MS ISO 692: 2007 batik certification which has been acquired twice since 2015 and will be renewed every two years. The most recent renewal was for 2018-2020.
During this open day, about 100 handicraft entrepreneurs under PKS guidance throughout the State participated in the event.
Jison Lagin, 56, a farmer from Pensiangan, Nabawan is one of the pools of people who thronged the PKS during the event. Jison had this to say regarding the PKS open-day event, “This programme has created a sense of responsibility for the uniqueness of Sabah’s local handicraft that needs to be maintained.”
He further said that the uniqueness of Sabah’s handicraft products produced by PKS needs to continue so that young people nowadays are aware of their responsibilities in sustaining them.
Furthermore, Suharisnah binti Mohd Sulaiman, 20, from Keningau, also hopes that more programmes similar to the event to be continued in preserving Sabah’s cultural handicraft heritage. “PKS have taken a positive approach through this programme by exposing to the public the uniqueness of Sabah’s handicraft products that badly needs to be preserved,” she said.
“However, the programme needs to be further improved by increasing cultural-related activities in Sabah to attract more visitors coming to a similar event such as this. This event will bring people closer to the culture and ethnicity in Sabah,” she opined.
According to Salbiah Sabrie, a 43-year-old homemaker from Kg. Baginda, Keningau, “The programme has given a sense of appreciation to local handicrafts and furniture made by the locals through PKS programmes.”
“Today, PKS has successfully showcased the variety of handicrafts and furniture products produced by local makers. This event has made visitors feeling exceptionally proud of the achievements and uniqueness of our handicraft products in comparison to those that came from abroad. Therefore, we need to appreciate all the handwork produced by us so that we will never lose this artistic privilege,” she said.
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