Held at the prestigious Borneo Cultures Museum, The Hasanah Gold Threads Awards Ceremony is like a beacon of recognition for excellence in textiles and craftsmanship, and a significant step towards preserving our rich heritage.
A celebration of textile artistry, culture, and innovation
The Hasanah Gold Threads Awards Ceremony was held at the prestigious Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching, where invited guests and award recipients witnessed a special presentation by Yayasan Hasanah and the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with TANOTI and ASEAN Handicraft Promotion & Development Association (AHPADA).
A significant step towards preserving our rich heritage, the event begins with a stage performance, followed by a welcome message from TANOTI Director Jacqueline Fong and AHPADA Secretary Elaine Chan.
The inaugural Hasanah Gold Threads Awards is like a beacon of recognition for excellence in textiles and craftsmanship, an initiative fuelled by a shared vision of preserving and sustaining the crafts passed down through generations.
These awards not only recognise outstanding artisans, but also the resilience and cultural contributions of Malaysian communities.
“At present, many of our textile traditions have faded into the fabrics of history — some precious heritage motifs have gone extinct, and legacy weaving techniques have already been lost across the generations. Recognising this crucial gap, Yayasan Hasanah has been working tirelessly with our expert textile partners in this niche space, through initiatives such as preserving original Malaysian legacy motifs via digital documentation and intellectual property protection, capacity development training among the youth in heritage textile arts like Kelingkan, Keringkam, Songket and Telepuk, as well as developing an experiential centre of heritage textiles,” said Dato’ Shahira Ahmed Bazari, Trustee and Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah.
The awards recognised excellence in six unique categories, and after much deliberation, 18 exceptional textile artisans emerged as the cusps of excellence, showcasing their extraordinary craftsmanship across categories of Beadwork, Drawing and Stamping, Embroidery and Embellishment, Ikat, Plaiting, and Supplementary Weft.
Each category has two awards — Best Traditional and Best Innovative — each with a RM25,000 cash reward. Commendable efforts are also recognised with Special Mention Awards in each category, each with a RM10,000 cash prize.
The ceremony featured and honoured the participating artisans, as well as the distinguished panel of judges — experts with keen discernment who meticulously evaluated an impressive total of 168 submissions from textile artisans across the country.
Facilitated by Edric Ong, Honorary President of AHPADA, the esteemed panel included Raja Datin Paduka Fuziah Raja Sri Tun Uda, Advisor of AHPADA; Irma Murni Ismail, Senior Lecturer at UiTM; Noorizal Ramly, Head of the Kraftangan Malaysia Craft Excellence Center; and Shahira.
The Hasanah Gold Award “Patron of Malaysia’s Heritage Textiles” presented to Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah was the highlight of the evening’s celebration.
The prestigious award ceremony honoured Her Royal Majesty’s significant contributions, dedication, and unwavering influence in the realm of Malaysian textiles over the years.
Her Majesty has encouraged and opened more opportunities for the youth to learn Pahang Weaving, which has resulted in the birth of hundreds of weavers for the Pahang Weaving craft.
The esteemed guest of honour, Puan Sri Dato’ Fatimah Mohd Iskandar, graced the Hasanah Gold Threads Awards Ceremony, adding a touch of prestige to this celebration of cultural wealth.
Present alongside the guest of honour were Datu Dr Rashidah Bolhassan, Special Administrative Officer of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak; and Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
For a deeper dive into the vibrant world of the Hasanah Gold Threads Awards and to celebrate the heart and soul of Malaysia’s rich cultural history, visit their website at www.hasanahgoldthreads.com or follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. The complete list of winners for each category and award can be found here.
The Hasanah Gold Threads Awards is a great initiative to promote wider awareness and appreciation of Malaysia’s diverse cultural legacy.
One of the recipients is Ibu Ngot Bi, a 91-year-old Sarawakian who amazed us with her ability to continue producing a heritage craft that is intricately weaved from pandanus leaves.
Hopefully, the future generation can learn from her so that this heritage craft does not become extinct.
Every heritage craft should be treasured like gold!
An artwork by Ong Wan Fen and Hasmah Yamin, who received a Special Mention Award for their innovative use of weaving technique, stood out from the rest of the crafts.
The butterflies and fern leaves look so pretty in this “Garden Alight” with colours brought through metallic dyed filaments and dyed spun silk yarns.
