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Forest Based Fibre 

The forest based fibres such as rattan bamboo, ribu-ribu, bemban, mengkuang and pandanus are coiled,

plaited, twined and woven to produce comely bags, baskets, mats and hats.

Rattan or cane are usually used for furniture while the smaller varieties are woven into baskets ranging

from waste paper basket to picnic hampers. The ribu-ribu of Sabah or Lygodium are woven from the

twines of the creeper fern by the ethnic Rungus people in Kudat and is a Sabah specialty. So, remember

to get one if you happen to be in Sabah.

Mengkuang and Pandanus Weaving 

Mengkuang and Pandanus is a kind of plant grow wildly in the woods. Mengkuang weaving has started

long before the history of Modern Malaysia till today. Before the weaving takes place, mengkuang

leaves will be dyed into desired colour and dry under the sun. weaving always done as cottage industry

in rural area and then sold in the market. The end products range from baskets, food covers, mats to

some souvenir items such as coin porch, hand-holding fan, slipper etc.

Weaving

A specialty of Kelantan and Terengganu, “  Kain Sonket ”  is a hand-woven fabric with gold and silver

threads through the material. ‘Tekat ’ is a form of gold embroidery that is traditionally used to decorate

traditional Malay weddings regalia. Nowadays, it is used as tissue-box covers, handbags, wall

decorations and tablecloths. “Mengkuang” is a far more prosaic form of weaving using   pandunus leaves

and strips of bamboo to make baskets, bags and mats.

The Mah Meri and Jah Hut, two tribes of aborigines in Peninsula Malaysia are noted for their carvings of 

mythical creatures related to their folklore. The carvings are usually from the wood of mangrove treesand are maroon in colour. To get the best prices buy direct from these carvers, who mostly live in the

coastal district of Selangor, especially on Pulau Carey (Carey Island).

Introduction

Some of the key features of the Malaysian cultures are: Batik, Kite making,

pewter making, weaving and wood carving. These activities make for the

primary goods and products of the Malaysia and its society.

Batik was first brought in by the Hindu traders to Malaysia. This art of 

sketching, waxing and dying a cloth into beautiful designs have become

inherent to the culture of Malaysia.

Kites in Malaysia are called Waus and make for one of the most happening industries in rural Malaysia.

The art of kite making was passed down generation to generation from the Melakan court.

Being one of the largest producers and exporters of tin in the world, Malaysia is equally famous for its

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intricately carved pewter. The Royal Selangor Pewter Factory is one of the major producers of pewters

in Malaysia. This factory was established by a Chinese craftsman, Yoon Koon in 1885 and continues till

date producing the finest of the pewters available throughput the world.

With the vast vegetation and no dearth of timber of all sorts, weaving makes for one of the tribal

handicrafts making way into the Malaysian cultures. Several types of vines and threads are used for the

weaving purposes. Be it the weaving of furniture or a cloth, Malaysia excels in terms of quality, quantity

and variety. The sago palm makes for one of the best weaving materials and is found in abundance in

Malaysia. The sago can be dried, dyed and made into beautiful trinkets, jewelry, baskets and so on.

Like weaving, wood carving too makes for one of the primary occupations and major handicrafts of 

Malaysian culture. This intricate art is where the Malay and the tribes excel most. One can sport the

intricately done carving almost everywhere starting from the roof tops to the temples, boats, burial

poles and masks.

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Mengkuang (screwpine leaves) or pandanus weaving is one of the traditional arts still very much alive

and its products are still in demand.

Mengkuang (Pandanus odoratissimus), is a huge pandan-like plant that grows

along the back mangroves and also found in the local jungles. The fruits can be

eaten, and leaves may be used to weaving

Weaving used to be a leisurely pastime of coastal village women in the east

coast states of Peninsular Malaysia during the rainy months. Today, it is a

thriving cottage industry. The tall, thorny leaves of the pandanus

or mengkuang are collected, boiled,

dyed and made into colourful gift

boxes, mats, beach bags, hats, fans, purses, and slippers

Mengkuang weaving usually practiced by womenfolk in the

rural kampung areas. The process requires patience, skill and

dedication.

The leaves after having stripped of its thorns, are first are split

into long strands, soaked and dried in

the sun. Once dried, it is boiled and

dyed with vegetable colours.

It is then woven according to the required designs. The design of motifs

or kelarai is usually based on plant, flora and fauna and even animals

Looking at the material and shape of the woven products, initially the craft is

created with emphasis is on usage more than anything else. As skills

developed, this concept has changed, especially the art of weaving mats,

where several types of kelarai are made into decorative pieces. Skill is needed

to make kelarai and the experts in this art have begun to realize the concept of 

beauty and aesthetics. Kelarai or ragi are named and shaped after flowers,

bamboo as well as other rural elements or pursuits

The numerous items made are both unique and eye-catching. Being decorative as well as useful, the

items are excellent purchase be it for self or as gifts for weddings, souvenirs and ornamental hand-outsMengkuang Basket Weavers of Langkawi 

Posted on 18. Feb, 2010 by marcel in Herbs & Ingredients, Natural Organic Products, Our Community 

Here are some pictures of our visit to a workshop where village women of Langkawi are trained to

weave, sew and decorate all sorts of handicrafts made from mengkuang, a weed related to the fragrant

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screwpine plant that Malaysians use in their cooking. The Paul Penders company once used a uniquely-

designed basket by them for corporate gifts (see photo below).

Mengkuang weaving is a big cottage industry in Malaysia, usually done by village women to supplement

their household income. The workshop is run by Puan Hasna, who frequently goes to the neighboring

villages to encourage women to learn this traditional craft.

Above: one of Pn Hasna's weavers making a straw mat while her baby son plays close by. Mengkuang

weaving offers a livelihood for many working mothers with small children.

Puan Hasna (right) showing my wife (and Paul Penders distributor) Aini Jantan a woven pillow.

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Long strands of dyed mengkuang hanging next to some finished bags at the workshop. Note how the

different colored strands of mengkuang are interwoven to create gradient effects on some of the bags.

Unfinished mengkuang mats with intricate patterns.

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Aini and Pn Hasna with Puan Arfah (in purple) and Puan Roziyah (far right). Pn Arfah is responsible for

the dried flower arrangements on the woven baskets on the floor, while Pn Roziyah specializes in sequin

decorations. They both have their own businesses but work with Pn Hasna's weavers when the design

calls for some flamboyant decorations.

Above: some of Pn Arfah’s flower arrangements on

the workshop’s finished trays and baskets. 

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These imitation flowers are made from dyed mengkuang leaves.

Charming and colorful hand-woven containers at the retail shop.

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Pn Hasna holding an unusual container that the Paul Penders company once used as gift bags for

corporate gifts.

There is a square around all those tiny burgundy patterns that is woven in a different pattern from the

rest of the mat. It's hard to make out the squares in the photo because it is all on undyed mengkuang

fibers. It was one of the more expensive items in the store because of the intricate weaving, but it was

only RM 30, which is approximately US$8 or 9. This item is now on our dining table and it looks great.

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More containers, handbags and baskets at their retail store, including a nice purple laundry basket on

the right.

Pandan/Mengkuang Weaving 

Weaving is a popular traditional craft among village women. Indeed, in the past, a maiden was not

considered sufficiently accomplished unless she could weave attractive mats, woven from colorfully

dyed mengkuang or pandan leaves,they make stunning yet very affordable utility items such as food

covers, floor mats, hats,baskets and table mats.

Pandan or mengkuang leaves that have been stripped of thorns are split into strands, soaked, dried,

dyed and then woven according to the required designs.

In the past, the creators of these diamond-shaped patterns gathered their inspiration from nature.

Motifs, which had their source in Malaysian flora and fauna, were arranged and carefully woven into

beautiful, attractive products like food covers, hats and baskets.

MENGKUANG/PANDAN WEAVING

Mengkuang (screwpine leaves) or pandanus weaving is one of the traditional arts still very much alive

and its products are still in demand. The mengkuang and pandan leaves are found abundance in the

local jungles. The leaves are first cut in long strips and dried in the sun. Once dried, it is boiled and dyed

with vegetable colours. It is weaved into beautiful mat, handbag, slippers, food covers, pencil case andpurse, among others.

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Mengkuang

Dear Readers, this website was started on 2 April 2011 and the contents of many articles are still

growing organically.

Mengkuang kipas (fan), made in Terengganu,Malaysia. 

(c) Lolyco.com 

Mengkuang is a tropical plant in the screwpine genus, the leaves of which are commonly used

in Malaysianhandicrafts. Native to southern Asia, its natural habitatranges from southern India east

to Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands (southern Japan), and south to Indonesia. It is commonly found

in Malaysia near mangroves and in  jungles. The botanical name of Mengkuang is Pandanus

odoratissimus.

2.  The Mengkuang is a huge pandan-like plant, varying in size between straggling shrub and tall tree,

with long, thorny, and pointed leaves. The flower is used asperfume, aromatic oil (kevda oil),

and fragrant distillation(otto) called keorra-ka-arak. These are stimulant andantispasmodic, and are

used to treat headache andrheumatism. The flowers are also used to flavor food. The fruit of the

Mengkuang is large, resembling a pineapple, and can be eaten.

3.  Weaving of mengkuang leaves used to be a leisurely pastime of coastal village women in the east

coast states of  Peninsular Malaysia during the rainy months. Today, it is a thriving cottage industry. The

leaves, after having stripped of its thorns, are first split into long strands, soaked and dried in thesun. The natural drying process makes mengkuang production a seasonal process, slower in

themonsoon season. Once dried, the leaves are boiled and dyed with vegetable colours. It is then

woven according to the required designs. The process requires patience, skill and dedication.

4. Products made from mengkuang may be of a single colour, or of various designs employing many

colours. Highly skilled mengkuang weavers incorporate motifs or 'kelarai', usually based on plants and

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even animals, into their designs. Mengkuang products range from the purely utilitarian, such

as mats and baskets to more decorative products such as handbags, hats, gift boxes and

souvenirs. Many mengkuang gift andsouvenir products combine other handicrafts, such as batik in a

single item.

PROCESS

Mengkuang (screw pine leaves) or pandanus weaving is one of the traditional arts still very much alive

and its products are still in demand.The Mengkuang and Pandan leaves are found abundance in the local

 jungles.

The leaves are first cut in long strips and dried in the sun.Once dried,it is boiled and dyed with

vegetables colours.Still using the traditional weaving techniques the mengkuang or pandan leaves are

coiled,plaited,twined and woven to create beautifully products such as mats,conical food covers,grocery

bags,hand fans,baskets,tissue decorative boxes,hats,handbags,slippers,purses and pencil cases.

The potential of mengkuang/pandan has been tapped into and creating increasing demands by touristsand locals.The Mengkuang/pandan finished products are widely available at the Central Market and

Souvenir Shops.