KUALA LUMPUR: Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah expressed gratitude for the Malaysian Prison Department's efforts in reviving the Royal Pahang Weave.
Her Majesty applauded the department, staff and those in custody for contributing significantly to the global recognition of this textile art.
"In 2004 and 2005, there were only 15 weavers in Pahang. In my opinion, it was critical. I said if nothing was done, the Royal Pahang Weave would just fade away.
"The prison (Malaysian Prison Department) played a significant role in helping me revive the Royal Pahang Weave," Tunku Azizah said in a speech at the 2023 Love Symphony charity dinner organised by the Prisons Department in Putrajaya last night.
Present at the event were Home Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Ruji Ubi, Prisons Department Commissioner-General Datuk Nordin Muhamad and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
She stressed that without prison department personnel and inmates, the opportunities for weaving and its entrepreneurs in town might only produce two to three pieces a month, making it challenging to meet the demand.
"Thank you to the warden for providing guidance and producing clothes for the Sultan of Perak's inauguration, my niece's wedding and for five years as the Queen.
"I only wear Royal Pahang Songket produced by Malaysian prisons," Her Majesty said.
Her Majesty, who is the royal patron of Prison Arts and Crafts Malaysia, shared that everyone praises her beautiful clothes, which have taken Malaysia to the world stage, from London to the prisons in the Philippines, Singapore, and Japan.
"They wanted us to teach them weaving, as they want to learn how Malaysian prisons produce such beautiful woven fabrics," Her Majesty added.
Last night, Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah graced the Prisons Department 2023 Symphony of Love dinner.
Her majesty was accompanied by her daughter, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah' Althiyatullah.
This charity event was organised in collaboration with the Prisons Department, the Malaysian Correctional Foundation, the National Prihatin Foundation and Association of Wife, Children and Women Members of Prisons Department (Persiap).
The charity event aimed to gather contributions to support welfare initiatives.
Tunku Azizah also visited the fabric exhibition zone, showcasing various products using natural colours and the latest patterned fabrics.
During the event, Tunku Azizah graciously delivered two awards: the Dedication Icon Award (for prison staff) to Sergeant Major Raja Mohamad Raja Adam and Compassion Icon Award (for inmates) to Mohd Rosli Zulkifli.
Raja Mohamad, originally from Machang, Kelantan, is stationed at Penor Prison and possesses expertise in crafting Royal Pahang woven fabric. He is also a certified trainer in the songket 'daster' SKM level two skills programme.
Mohd Rosli holds a National Dual Training System (NDTS) level two for songket and 'daster' weaving.
He was also the weaver for the fabric used in the Royal Ceremony of Tunku Puteri Johor Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Ibrahim in 2017.
He also designed the Royal Pahang Weaving shirt worn by national leaders during the ASEAN Summit in 2015.
Pahang state prison director, Datuk Abu Hassan Hussain, represented Mohd Rosli in receiving the award.
