A trip to Kuala Kangsar would not be complete without purchasing the royal town's famous handicraft, the 'labu
sayong'.
Labu sayong, a handicraft made of clay, has not only gained the attention of locals, but from people across the country, as well as abroad.
What's most encouraging is the product is also undergoing a revolution, and entrepreneurs have diversified it into various forms from its original use as a water storage container or for purely decorative purposes.
According to the Perak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Multimedia and Communications Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi, there were 128 labu sayong entrepreneurs in Kuala Kangsar registered with the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan) of which about 90 were active.
"They produce labu sayong, either alone, or through the cooperative we have set up in Kampung Kepala Bendang, Sayong.
"The labu sayong produced is to meet the demand for souvenirs, for daily use, or to be exported abroad," she told Bernama here.
Looking at the potential of the product, which could create more economic opportunities for the locals, the state government had held a series of workshops to improve the aesthetic value of the product.
She said the effort was not only to explore export opportunities for labu sayong, but also to create a 'centre of excellence' for the handicraft in Sayong itself.
"The state government, along with government agencies such as SIRIM (Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia) and Kraftangan are applying for funding to be approved," she said when contacted by Bernama, here.
She said there were also entrepreneurs who had been given assistance by Kraftangan, in the form of kilns worth RM50,000 to RM200,000, for them to increase production.
Meanwhile, SIRIM is studying the health benefits of the water stored in the water containers, which were made from high-grade clay.
A businessman, Shahizol Alang Othman, who had 22 years' experience in the industry said since he received a new kiln, production had increased by 40 per cent compared to before.
Shahizol, 38, who hails from Kampung Kepala Bendang said he could sell 100 to 200 labu sayong a month, according to the season.
"Apart from making labu sayong as souvenirs and water containers, I also produce it in the form of bedside lamps, and small containers, as well as cute animated characters," he said.
Shahizol runs his business with his wife, and now had two workshops as well as a showroom, in Sayong and Padang Rengas.
He sells his products from as low as RM1.20 to RM200, depending on the size and type.
Shahizol, who inherited his handicraft skills from his grandmother said the high quality labu sayong were produced when burned at temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius for a suitable amount of time.
"To avoid it from breaking and not being durable, I maintain combustions at the appropriate temperature for a suitable timeframe, and with the help of the oven (kiln) from Kraftangan, I can burn up to 70 medium-sized labu sayong at a time," he said.
He said the demand for good quality labu sayong and unique designs from customers and tourists were among the factors which drove him to be more competitive.
Water stored in labu sayong containers are said to be more fresh, cool, and tasty, besides being nutritious.
Bernama
Thu Jun 16 2016
Shahizol, who inherits his handicraft skills from his grandmother, sells his products from as low as RM1.20 to RM200, depending on the size and type. - fotoBERNAMA
Khilaf dalam kalangan ulama adalah 'rahmat' jika dikawal dan dijaga - Anwar
Penerimaan kepada pandangan yang berbeza merupakan amalan yang sihat dalam memberikan orang ramai kefahaman yang mendalam terhadap sesuatu perkara.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Jumaat, 3 Mei 2024.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Ragbi: Malaysia muncul juara Kejohanan SEA 7s 2024
Pasukan ragbi lelaki tujuh sebelah (7s) negara mencipta sejarah muncul juara Kejohanan Tujuh Sebelah Asia Tenggara (SEA 7s) 2024.
MAPIM seru pertubuhan antarabangsa perkukuh perlindungan untuk wartawan
MAPIM menyeru pertubuhan antarabangsa dan kerajaan memperkuat perlindungan untuk wartawan memandangkan mereka turut menjalankan peranan penting dalam mengekalkan masyarakat demokrasi.
Cuaca panas: Orang ramai tidak perlu risau, KKM sentiasa pantau keadaan - Dr Dzulkefly
Orang ramai diminta tidak khuatir dengan cuaca panas yang melanda beberapa negeri ketika ini kerana situasi itu sentiasa dipantau rapat Kementerian Kesihatan (KKM).
Program Rakyat: Pengunjung digalak guna pengangkutan awam, elak kesesakan
Pengunjung yang ingin menghadiri Program MADANI Rakyat 2024 Zon Utara di Tapak Pesta Sungai Nibong, dekat sini digalakkan untuk menggunakan pengangkutan awam yang disediakan Kementerian Pengangkutan.
Pemimpin pembangkang India Rahul Gandhi akan bertanding di kubu kuat parti, Uttar Pradesh
Rahul menghantar borang pencalonan untuk Raebareli pada Jumaat yang dihadiri ibunya Sonia Gandhi dan Presiden Parti Kongres Mallikarjun Kharge.
Azizulhasni raih motivasi hadapi minggu mencabar di Jepun
Azizulhasni menang dua pingat emas masing-masing dalam acara pecut dan keirin pada perlumbaan Siri Trek ASEAN di Velodrom Nasional.
JDT sediakan fasiliti latihan terbaik untuk skuad B-17 negara
Skuad muda negara bimbingan Javier Jorda Ribera dijadual menjalani kem latihan pusat di Pasir Gudang, Johor sehingga Selasa depan.
Kemalangan dua treler di lebuh raya, semua lorong arah utara terhalang
Susulan kemalangan itu menyebabkan semua lorong arah utara terhalang dan trafik dilencongkan ke Plaza Tol Kuala Kangsar.
Permaisuri berkenan menziarahi Makam Diraja Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar
Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah hari ini berkenan berangkat ke Makam Diraja Al-Ghufran Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar di Perak.
Raja Permaisuri Agong kenang kembali memori Ramadan di Kuala Kangsar
Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah mengenang kembali zaman kanak-kanak semasa malam Ramadan di kampung halaman Seri Paduka Baginda di Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
30 papan tanda, tonjol kampung tradisional, lokasi penggambaran popular Kuala Kangsar
Kehadiran papan tanda yang besar dapat merubah sudut pandang pelancong, di samping menampilkan beberapa kampung tradisional.
12 lelaki termasuk dua beragama Islam ditahan terbabit judi laga ayam
Tangkapan dibuat oleh sepasukan polis dari Bahagian D7, Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Perak.
Polis rampas 51 kg dadah RM2.57 juta, tahan dua ‘transporter’
Polis merampas dadah jenis methamphetamine seberat 51.5 kilogram dianggarkan bernilai RM2.57 juta dalam serbuan di kawasan Kuala Kangsar, pada Sabtu.
Struktur bot rosak, paras Sungai Perak surut punca Balai Gambang tak beroperasi
Walaupun kerja baik pulih telah dilakukan, namun struktur yang usang menyebabkan operasi tidak dapat diteruskan kerana boleh membahayakan.
Tahun Melawat Perak: Balai Gambang tersadai, peluang nikmati pelayaran terbantut
Balai Gambang sememangnya signifikan digunakan sebagai kenderaan air di Sungai Perak bagi tujuan pertabalan Sultan Perak.
40 mural menarik papar sejarah, warisan Kuala Kangsar
Inisiatif terbaharu Majlis Daerah Kuala Kangsar itu dilihat dapat menceriakan suasana, sekali gus menarik lebih ramai pengunjung.
Peniaga abadikan nama 'Warung Pak Jabit', mahu nostalgia filem terus hidup
Kedai makan terbiar yang pernah menjadi lokasi penggambaran tiga filem Allahyarham Mamat Khalid kini 'kembali' meriah.