KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's craft industry has the potential to boom in business with the training of new talent to meet the needs of the growing market demand.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said in September this year, craft sales saw an increase of 19 per cent compared with last year.
"The craft industry generated RM250.1 million in September this year, compared with RM211 million in 2022," he said in a speech read out by the ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Roslan Abdul Rahman, at the 21st Institut Kraf Negara (IKN) convocation at Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
"The success of IKN's alumni in becoming job creators for the craft industry has opened up many opportunities to other individuals.
"Based on IKN's graduate tracking data, some 82 per cent, or 2,381 graduates, have entered the job market in various fields since 2001."
This year's convocation involved 115 graduates — 72 from the Diploma in Craft Arts programme, eight from the Certificate in Craft Arts programme and 27 from the Malaysian Skills Certificate programme, including batik craft, weaving craft, ceramic craft, wood craft, metal craft and rattan craft.
The Best Overall Graduate Award went to Diploma in Wood Craft Art graduate Amirul Shafiq Shaari, Wood Craft Art Certificate graduate Izhar Hakimi Isrunishyam and IKN Sabah satellite campus songket and daster weaving supervisor Fatimah Nadia Puldin @ Amir.
Eight graduates from the Tengku Ampuan Besar Meriam Pahang Royal Weaving Skills Institute received the Royal Pahang Weaving Skills Certificate.
Since its establishment in 2001, IKN has produced 2,892 graduates through its main campus in Rawang and four satellite campuses in Inanam and Kota Belud, Sabah, and Kuching and Betong, Sarawak.
Of the total, 1,634 graduates, or 57 per cent, received diplomas, 1,210 graduates, or 43 per cent, received certificates, and 48 graduates received Malaysian Skills Certificates.
Tiong said IKN must identify weaknesses in the craft industry to train more talents who can compete internationally.
"Although our national craft industry has its own unique identity, we must also take a page from our rivals' speciality to upgrade our skills.
"By preparing more talents, the craft industry will grow and meet the needs of the growing market."
In conjunction with the convocation, the Pasareka programme is being held from Wednesday to Sunday. It features a corporate exhibition, student product sales, craft demonstrations and an IKN alumni exhibition.
Pasareka brings together designers, art enthusiasts and students to share ideas in the development of new craft products, while educating the public about local crafts.
These efforts underscore the government's and ministry's commitment to supporting craft education and entrepreneurship, creating jobs and helping craft entrepreneurs increase their income, Tiong said.
Present at the convocation were the ministry's deputy secretary-general Yusri Mohd Yusoff, Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation director-general 'Ainu Sham Ramli and IKN senior director Shamsul Azizi Samsudin.
