PUTRAJAYA, Dec 27 — Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah expressed her appreciation tonight to the Malaysian Prisons Department for reviving the Royal Pahang Weave, which was considered ‘critical’ at one point in time.
Her Majesty stated that the staff and inmates of the prison had contributed significantly to the production of this textile art, making it renowned in the world today.
“In around 2004 and 2005, there were only 15 weavers in Pahang. For me, it was crucial; I said if nothing was done, the Royal Pahang Weave would just die.
“It was the prison (Malaysian Prisons Department) that helped me revive the Royal Pahang Weave,” she said at the Symphony of Love 2023 event organised by the Malaysian Prisons Department here tonight.
Tunku Azizah said in the beginning, it was somewhat challenging for staff and inmates to learn the weaving techniques. Now, many have mastered the art to the point of being able to produce new designs and techniques.
Her Majesty who is also the Royal Patron for Arts and Crafts of the Malaysian Prisons Department said the beauty of the weavings by prison inmates also attracted the attention of various individuals including when it was exhibited in conjunction with the London Craft Week (LCW) in May, to the extent that there were requests from the prisons departments of Singapore, the Philippines and Japan to learn about Malaysian textile art.
“Fortunately, these prisoners can learn something that can uplift them when they get out, giving them hope that what they learn from prison can be a source of sustenance, and generate income one day. I ask you not to look down on people in prison,” she said.
The 2023 Symphony of Love event attended by more than 800 guests was held with the strategic cooperation of the Malaysian Prisons Department, the Malaysian Correctional Foundation, the National Prihatin Foundation and the Association of Wives, Children and Women Members and Staff of the Malaysian Prisons Department (Persiap).
Tunku Azizah was also accompanied by her daughter, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah ‘Athiyatullah.
Also present were Home Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Rubi Uji, Commissioner General of Prisons Datuk Nordin Muhamad and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
Besides being a charity dinner, the event was also held to thank Her Majesty for the many opportunities provided to prison staff and inmates to work on textile arts, including Royal Pahang Weave, songket, and batik.
Meanwhile, Tunku Azizah was pleased to present two awards, namely the Icon of Dedication Award (Prison Staff) to Sergeant Major Raja Mohamad Raja Adam and the Icon of Love Award (Prison Inmate) to Mohd Rosli Zulkifli, who was represented by Pahang Prisons director Datuk Abu Hassan Hussain.
Raja Mohamad who hails from Machang, Kelantan works at the Penor Prison and is an expert in producing the Royal Pahang Weave fabric as well as a certified skills programme trainer for weaving the ‘daster’ songket.
Mohd Rosli, who holds a certificate in songket weaving, had the honour of weaving the fabric for the outfit worn by Tunku Puteri Johor Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Ibrahim during her wedding in 2017, and creating Royal Pahang Weave shirts worn by country leaders in conjunction with the ASEAN SUMMIT 2015.
Meanwhile, Nordin in his speech said the involvement and commitment of the Queen had created a positive impact on the improvement of skills training programmes carried out by the prisons, particularly those involving the arts and crafts.
He said from 2012 to 2022, a total of 20,250 residents had been certified with the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM), Construction Skills Competency Certificate and Modular Certificate.
