KUCHING: The production of songket and Sarawak keringkam needs to be more competitive through the injection of contemporary ideas and innovation in order to stay relevant with time.

This is because the production of such heritage of textile weaving has yet to reach its full potential, federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said.

“I propose to the state Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to produce songket and keringkam that can be worn at any kind of events – one that is more casual but retains its tradition,” said Nancy.

“We want every tourist or those who come to Sarawak to bring home a songket or Sarawak keringkam. This will indirectly promote local tourism,” she said to the media when visiting the Songket and Keringkam Gallery here yesterday.

She asked that all parties, especially Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), to be more aggressive in promoting songket and Sarawak keringkam, suggesting that they use ‘Bring Home a Songket and Sarawak Keringkam’ as a tagline.

At the same time, Nancy said the younger generation should be further encouraged to participate in the production of songket and keringkam.

“The involvement of the younger generation in producing songket and keringkam will ensure the state’s prized heritage can be promoted and compete with other fabrics in the market.”

Nancy opined that the new generation would ‘revolutionise’ the heritage with creative new designs, such as motifs, that reflect the state’s ethnicity.

Among those present during the visit were state Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting and Deputy State Secretary and Sarawak Keringkam and Songket Heritage Innovation Project advisor Datu Dr Sabariah Putit.