Alternative Development and the Role of Commercial Handicraft Production in Sarawak, Malaysia

MADELINE BERMA (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, mac@ukm.my)

Abstract


The objective of this paper is to discuss the role of commercial handicraft production in solving some of the rural problems which have resulted from increasing poverty, environmental degradation and cultural alienation in Sarawak, Malaysia The analysis is based on an in-depth study conducted between 1993 to 1996 of 200 lban craftpersons from eleven rumah panjang (longhouses) in Kapit Division, Sarawak. One of the major findings of this study is that rural lban involvement in handicraft production could become an important element for a future process of small-scale industrialisation in-situ. Handicraft production is generally environmentally-friendly, labour-intensive, and most importantly it uses local resources (such as skills, institutions, and raw materials). With Sarawak growing emphasis on tourism development and the rich cultural heritage of the lban, the expansion of commercial handicraft production provides an 'alternative' development path for the state.

ABSTRAK

Kertas ini bertujuan membincang peranan pengeluaran kraftangan secara komersil dalam menangani masalah akibat peningkatan kemiskinan, kemusnahan alam sekitar dun pengasingan kebudayaan di Sarawak, Malaysia. Analisis adalah berasaskan kajiselidik yang dilakukan antara tahun 1993 sehingga 1996, ke atas 200 tukang krajiangan daripada sebelas buah rumah panjang di Bahagian Kapit, Sarawak. Satu daripada penemuan utama kajian ini ialah keupayaan pengeluaran kraftangan secara komersil sebagai elemen penting untuk membangunkan indushi berskel kecil secara in-situ. Umumnya,pengeluaran kraftangan adalah mesra alam, berintensifkan buruh dan menggunakan sumber tempatan (seperti kemahiran, institusi, bahan mentah). Dalam usaha pemerintah mempertingkatkan pembangunan pelancongan serta kekayaan warisan budaya masyarakat lban, maka perluasan aktiviti pengeluaran kraftangan secara komersil adalah satu laluan pembangunan 'alternatif' bagi Sarawak.


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