Innovation in heritage textile industry gets govt’s support, assure deputy minister

KUCHING (Dec 8): The government supports heritage textile communities while pushing the industry towards innovation.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan gave this assurance at the Borneo International Textile Festival (BiTF) 2025 here.

Themed ‘Weaving the Future: Connecting Cultures, Communities and Creative Industries’, the two-day event at the Pullman Hotel here features ‘keringkam’ and ‘batik linut’ textile masterclasses, as well as demonstrations of making ‘pua kumbu’ and songket.

Snowdan, in his welcoming remarks, said the programme recorded large participation from various agencies.

“This event gathers about 250 participants comprising those representing NGOs (non-governmental organisations), government agencies, academia, researchers, artisans, designers, artists and enthusiasts from Peninsula, Brunei and Indonesia,” he said.

Snowdan added that textile development continued to undergo modernisation through technological advancements, but he also emphasised that traditional craftsmanship must be preserved and driven by cultural values.

“We must preserve its traditional activity with a culture-driven motive and give our textile a new breath in the modern world and demands of the new generations,” he said.

The state deputy minister added that the industry meant to strengthen the textile segment into a political-economic sector, noting the state government would always welcome active participation from the communities.

“We want sustainable and meaningful materials for the next generation as we need them to realise that the dye used in their scrub came from a root in a body of rainforest.

“The state government welcomes active participation of various stakeholders and industry players, including private sectors, NGOs, as well as the local and other communities in liberating our standard of our fashion, utilising culture and heritage motif textiles,” he said.

Snowdan also expressed gratitude to the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah for her continued commitment in supporting development efforts, and also in encouraging more partnerships between Pahang and Sarawak.

“We have the ministry to provide the policy framework to protect intellectual property and heritage, while the private sector’s role is to provide innovation,” he added.

Snowdan said the community of weavers should be supported through better technologies, hailing such collaboration as being essential in strengthening the industry.

“We also want to see private investors adopting weaving communities by providing them better technologies while respecting the traditional method.

“This commitment from the hospitality sector is crucial as we gearing up for the Visit Malaysia 2026.

“The synergy between the tourism industry and textile industry must be seamless and harmonious,” he pointed out.