Pekan: The Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, today unveiled the Tunku Azizah Trophy for the Royal Pahang Weaving Competition, a platform created to discover emerging talents and honour the remarkable artisans behind the craftsmanship of the Royal Pahang Weave (Tenun Diraja Pahang).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the inaugural competition is being jointly organised by Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja and the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia). The competition features Beragi-patterned kain samping and sarong categories, with participation open to all Malaysians aged 18 and above, either individually or in groups. Participants are required to weave ‘kain samping’ (traditional woven cloth worn around the waist over Malay traditional attire) and sarong in the Beragi pattern, which is a traditional checkered design. They are allowed to incorporate modern elements or specific techniques such as ‘ikat’ or ‘colek’, but the primary pattern must be Beragi.
Participation is open to all, including inmates, prison instructors, entrepreneurs, or students of Institut Kemahiran Tenun Pahang Diraja, Her Royal Highness said in a press conference announcing the competition. Also present were Pahang deputy state secretary (Development) Datuk Ali Syahbana Sabaruddin and Kraftangan Malaysia director-general Datuk ‘Ainu Sham Ramli.
Tunku Azizah stated that the inspiration for the competition came from Piala Seri Endon, a batik design contest introduced by the late Tun Endon Mahmood, wife of former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. She expressed her admiration for Piala Seri Endon, which emphasizes local batik products, and shared her aspiration to organize an event with a similar concept.
She announced that the entry form, available since March 27, must be submitted by April 30, and participants are required to submit their finished products by Aug 18. The prize-giving ceremony is expected to take place on Sept 1. So far, 100 entries have been received. All submitted fabrics will be exhibited during the Temasya Warisan Pahang, which will run for a week at the Tunku Azizah Royal Craft Village in Pekan, beginning Sept 1.
The grand prize winner will take home RM30,000, while the second and third prize winners will receive RM20,000 and RM10,000, respectively. Five consolation prizes of RM3,000 each will also be given, and all prize winners will be presented with a trophy and certificate.