S’wakian craftswoman Adiguru Ngot Bi honoured with Hasanah Gold Award

KUCHING (Sept 7): Sarawakian Adiguru Ngot Bi was honoured with the Hasanah Gold Award (Lifetime Achievement Award) during the Hasanah Gold Threads Awards (HGTA) 2024 in Kuala Lumpur recently.

The 92-year-old is a double award winner of HGTA 2024, as her exquisite plaitings also earned her the Plaiting Traditional Award.

“She has been recognised as an Adiguru Kraf Negara by Kraftangan Malaysia and is accredited as a Sarawak Living Legend by the Sarawak government,” said Yayasan Hasanah in a statement.

The Hasanah Gold Award serves to honour individuals who have made significants contributions to the nation’s textile heritage.

Two other Sarawakians also earned two new supplementary awards unveiled at the HGTA 2024.

Helen Manjan Atong, 66, and Nor Haimah Mohammad, 22, emerged as the Sustainability Gold Award winner and Youth Achievement Award winner respectively.

Notably, at the HGTA 2024, Sarawakians swept 11 out of the 18 award categories.

On top of the Plaiting Traditional Award, Sarawakians also won the Supplementary Weft Traditional Award; Supplementary Weft Special Mention Award; Ikat Traditional Award; Drawing and Stamping Innovative Award; Embroidery and Embellishment Traditional Award; Embroidery and Embellishment Innovative Award; Plaiting Innovative Award; Plaiting Special Mention Award; Beadwork Traditional Award; and Beadwork Special Mention Award.

Dr June Ngo, Ong Wan Fen and Syamimi Razali brought home the Supplementary Weft Traditional Award while Ong Wan Fen and Syamimi Razali also bagged the Supplementary Weft Special Mention Award.

The Ikat Traditional Award and Drawing and Stamping Innovative Award went to Ejah Jepon and Micheal Lim Tiang Aik respectively.

Adiguru Salbiah Muhi emerged as the winner for the Embroidery and Embellishment Traditional category while Danny Mohamad Zulkifli won the Embroidery and Embellishement Innovative Award.

The Ranee x Biro Wanit Kerapa Spak and The Ranee x biro Wanita Rian Batang walked away with the Plaiting Innovative and Plaiting Special Mention awards respectively.

Juliana Embrose was named the Best Beadwork Traditional winner and Ina Sendar the best Beadwork Special Mention winner.

Meanwhile, Pahang emerged as the winners for three out of the 18 award categories followed by Terengganu winning two as well as Sabah and Penang earning one each.

From Pahang, Marzuki Ma Hasan won the Supplementary Weft Innovative Award; Ahmad Firdaus Mohd Razali (Ikat Innovative Award); and Adiguru Natipah@Nortipah Abdul Kadir (Ikat Special Mention Award).

Mohd Azwarin Ahmed and Mahusin Mohamad brought home the Drawing and Stamping Innovative and Drawing and Stamping Special Mention awards respectively. Both hail from Terengganu.

Adiguru Crisna Mojupi from Sabah and Dr Kenny Loh from Penang were the winners for the Embroidery and Embellishment Special Mention Award and Beadwork Innovative Award respectively.

According to Yayasan Hasanah, HGTA aligns with its overarching goal of invigorating national identity by mainstreaming Malaysian arts, heritage and culture.

“The second edition of the HGTA reaffirms ours dedication to preserving and promoting Malaysia’s cultural heritage, especially our diverse textile traditions.

“In addition to the 18 awards presented last year, this year has unveiled two new supplementary awards – Youth Achievement and Sustainability Gold, celebrating excellence in craftsmanship while promoting a national identity that underscores the role of our youth and sustainable practices,” said Yayasan Hasanah managing director Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki.

In the two years since its inception, the HGTA has proven to be a key segment of the agenda towards not only sustainble conservation, but equally importantly, viability in the creative economic sector, added Yayasan Hasanah.