Royal Pahang Weave Contest Draws 103 Participants, Offers RM104,000 In Prizes

KUANTAN, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- The inaugural Tunku Azizah Cup Royal Pahang Weave Competition received an encouraging response with 103 participants producing 206 entries.

Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, expressed her heartfelt gratitude and delight at the response to the competition, organised by Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja and supported by the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia).

Her Royal Highness, who is also the founder and chairman of Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja, stated that the competition is a crucial platform to empower and expand the reach of the Royal Pahang Weave at both national and international levels.

“The competition aims to uncover creative and innovative talent among weavers to produce Royal Pahang Weave of high quality in terms of aesthetics, design, technique, and skill, with potential commercial value,” Her Royal Highness said in a statement today.

Contestants hail from diverse backgrounds across the country, comprising individuals, students, entrepreneurs, and inmates from Penor and Bentong Prisons.

Tunku Azizah said Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah ‘Athiyatullah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will lead the panel of judges, comprising the country’s textile experts: Dr Habibah Abdul Jabar, Prof Dr Norwani Md Nawawi, Noorizal Ramly, and Noridah Johan, to evaluate all entries over four days, starting Aug 21.

“The judges will assess entries based on four criteria: excellence and originality, craftsmanship, innovation, and commercial potential. Most importantly, the products must be produced using handcrafting techniques as defined in the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) guidelines for handicrafts.

“Contestants are not allowed to use machines. Each product must incorporate Malaysia’s heritage values, in terms of motifs, colours, production techniques, or cultural practices,” Tunku Azizah added.

The competition offers a total of RM104,000 in cash prizes, along with trophies and certificates.

The prize-giving ceremony will be held during the Pahang Heritage Festival opening ceremony on Aug 31 at the Maritime Museum, Pulau Beram, Pekan. It will be officiated by Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

-- BERNAMA