MIRI: An integrated marketing strategy needs to be formulated to promote the handicraft produced by the Penan community in Sarawak, says Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau.

He said the Penans, one of the minorities under the Orang Ulu group in the state, had a natural skill for producing fine handicraft, but lacked the proper marketing initiatives to promote these products.

“The government provided assistance in starting a handicraft centre for the Penans at Batu Bungan (within the Mulu National Park in Baram district), but there are still several other Penan villages that produce good quality handicraft but lack the knowledge and know-how to market them,” he told reporters after closing a state-level handicraft skills workshop here yesterday.

A total of 27 people from across the state participated in the workshop, which was organised by the National Culture and Arts Department and the Sarawak branch of Kraftangan Malaysia. — Bernama

Ngau said the two government agencies could jointly create a strategy to commercialise Penan handicraft.

This could eventually help to improve the livelihood of the community which, in the past, had been known for being a nomadic tribe. — Bernama

(Source : The Star Online, 25/5/11)