Alternative Development and the Role of Commercial Handicraft Production in Sarawak, Malaysia
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.
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Abdul Kadir Haji Din. 1992. The Relevance of Tourism to Socio-economic Development in Sarawak. In King, V.T. (ed.). Tourism in Borneo: Issues and perspectives. Papers from the Second Biennial International Conference, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Borneo Research Council Proceeding Series, pp. 113-130.
Alexander, P., Boomgard, P., & White, B. (eds.). 1991. In the Shadow of Agriculture: Non-farm Activities in the Javanese Economy. Past and Present. Amsterdam: Rural Tropical Institute.
Arnold, J.E.M. 1993. Non-farm Employment in Small-Scale Forest-Based Enterprises: Policy and Environmenta1 Issues. Oxford: Oxford Forestry Institute Working Paper No. 12.
Beckeman, W. 1995. Small is Stupid: Blowing the Whistle on the Greens. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd..
Berma , M. 1996. The Commercialisation of Handicraft Production Among the Iban of Kapit Division in Sarawak, Malaysia: Constraints and Potential. Ph.D Thesis, University of Hull.
Bernstein, H. 1979. African Peasantries: A Theoretical Framework. Journal of Peasant Studies 6(4): 42 1-443.
Caslake, J. 1992. Tourism, Culture and the Iban. In King,V.T. (ed.,). Tourism in Borneo: Issues and Perspectives. Papers from The Second Biennial International Conference, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Borneo Research Council Proceeding Series, pp. 67-90.
Chambers, R 1989. The State and Rural Development: Ideologies and Agenda for the 1990s. Brighton: Institute of Development Studies Discussion Paper No. 269.
Chambers, R. & Conway, Gordon R. 1992. Sustainable Livelihoods: Practical Concepts for the 21st Century. Brighton: Institute of Development Studies Discussion Paper No. 296.
Chee Peng Lim. 1985. 'A Review of Nonfarm Activities in Malaysia' in Mukhopadhay, S. and Chee Peng Lim (eds.,). Promotion of Smal1-Scale Industries and Strategies for Rural Industrialisation; The Malaysian Experience. Kuala Lmpur: Sun U Co., Ptd.Ltd..
Esderts, Hans J. & lsmail Md. Salleh (4s.). 1990. Promotion of Small-Scale Industries and Strategies for Rural Industrialisation. The Malaysian Experience. Kuala Lumpur: Sun U Book Co., Sendirian Berhad.
Hazzel, P. & Haggblade, S. 1993. Farm-Nonfarm Growth Linkages and the Welfare of the Poor. In Lipton and Van der Gaag (eds.,). Including the Poor. Washington D.C: The World Bank.
Hettme, Bjorn. 1990. Development Theory and the Three Worlds. London: Longman.
Hulme, D. & Turner, Mark, M. 1990. Sociology and Development: Theories, Policies and practices. Hemmel Hempstead Harvester: Wheatsheaf.
Islam, R. 1984. Non-farm Employment in Rural Asia: Dynamic Growth or Proletarianisation? Journal of Contemporary Asia 14(5):306-324.
Joseph, Rebecca M. 1987. Diffused Batik Production in Central Java. Ph.D Dissertation. University of California, San Diego.
Kedit, Peter M. 1988. 'Iban Bejalai and Sarawak's Development. In Cramb, Rob A and Reece, R.H.W. (eds.), Development in Sarawak: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives. Monash University: Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Paper No. 17: 135-156.
Kedit, Peter M. 1989. An Overview of Iban Traditional and Cultural Values and Social Implications for Contemporary Sarawak. Sarawak Museum Journal, Special Issue, No. 4, pt.4, Vol. XL: 1-14.
Kedit, Peter M. 1993. Iban Bejalai. Kuala Lumpur: Ampang Press Sdn. Bhd. King, V.T. 1992. Tourism and Culture in Malaysia, With Reference to Borneo. In King, V.T. (ed.). Tourism in Borneo: Issues and Perspectives. Papers from the Second Biennial International Conference, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Borneo Research Council Proceeding Series, pp. 29-44.
Kedit, Peter M. & Pamwell, Michael J.G. (eds.). 1990. Margins and Minorities: The Peripheral Areas and Peoples of Malaysia. Hull: University of Hull Press.
Kitching, G. 1982. Development and Underdevelopment in Historical Perspectives: Populism, Nationalism and Industrialisation. London: Methuen.
Koppel, B. & Hawkins, I. 1994. Development or Deterioration? Understanding Employment Diversification in Rural Asia. In Koppel, B., Hawkins, J. and William, 1. (eds.). Development or Deterioration? Work in Rural Asia. London: Lynne Reinner, pp. 249-275.
Kottak, Conrad P. 1990. Culture and Economic Development. American Anthropologist 92(3): 723-731.
Lanjouw, P. 1998. Equador's Rural Nonfarm Sector as a Route out of Poverty. Policy Research Working Paper. 1094. The World Bank.
Lanjouw, 1.0. & Lanjouw, P. 1995. Rural Nonfarm Employment: A Survey. Policy Research WorkingPaper. No. 1463. The World Bank.
Munan, H. 1989. Sarawak Handicrafts: The Economic Aspect. Sarawak Museum JournalXL(6l): 117-124.
Parnwell, Michael J. G. 1992. Tourism and Rural Handicrafts in Thailand: To Change or Not to Change? Paper presented at the International Conference in the ASEAN Region. Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, 31 August to 3 September, 1992.
Parnwell, Michael J. G. 1994. Environmental Degradation, Non-timber Forest Products and Iban Communities in Bintulu Division, Sarawak: Impact Response and Prospects. Paper presented at the ASEAUK Conference on The Environment in South- east Asia, University of London, 28-30 March.
Parnwell, Michael J. G & Taylor, David M. 1996. Environmental Degradation, Non- Timber Forest Products and Iban Communities in Sarawak: Impact, Response and Future Prospects. In Parnwell, Michael J. G. and Bryant, Raymond L. (eds.). Environmental Change in South-East Asia: People, Politics and Sustainable Development. London: Routledge, pp. 269-300.
Parnwell, Michael J. G. 1998. Rural Industrialization in Indonesia: A Case Study of Community-Based Weaving Industry in West Java, review of the book. The Journal of Development Studies 34(3): 153-155.
Sarawak Agricultural Development Project (SADP). 1994. Sarawak Agricultural Development Strategy: A Perspective Plan Approach, (unpublished).
Saith, A. 1990. Location, Linkage and Leakage: Malaysian Rural Industrialisation Strategies in National Perspective. In Esderts, Hans J and Ismail Md. Salleh (eds.). Promotion of Small-Scale Industries and Strategies for Rural Industrialisation. The Malaysian Experience. Selangor: Sun U Book Co. Sendirian Berhad, pp. 64-100.
Schumacher, E. F. 1973. Small is Beautiful. A Study of Economics as if People Mattered. London: Sphere Books Limited.
Schmitz, H. 1982. Growth Constraints on Small-Scale Manufacturing in Developing Countries: A Critical Review. World Development 190(6): 429-520.
Stavenhagen, R. 1986. Ethnodevelopment: A Neglected Dimension in Economic Development Thinking. In Arthorpe, Raymond and Krahl, Andras (eds.). Development Studies: Critique and Renewal. Leiden: E. J. Brill, pp. 71-94.
Stephen, L. 1991. Culture as a Resource: Four Cases of Self-Managed Ingenous Craft Production in Latin America. Economic Development and Cultural Change 24(1): 101-130.
Taylor, Fraser D. R. & Mackenzie, Fiona (eds.). 1992. Development from Within: Survival in Rural Africa. London: Routledge.
UKM. 1994. Poverty Study of Selected Areas in Sarawak. Final Report Submitted to Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri Sarawak.
Van de Walle, D. 1994. ‘Rural Poverty in an Emerging Market Economy: Is Diversification into Nonfarm Activities in Rural Vietnam the Solution?’ Policy Research Department. The World Bank. Mimeo.
Zeppel, H. 1992. Getting to Know the Iban: The Tourist Experience of Visiting an Iban Longhouse in Sarawak. In King, V. T. (ed.). Tourism in Borneo: Issues and Perspectives. Papers from the Second Biennial International Conference, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Borneo Research Council Proceeding Series, pp. 59-66.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
ISSN: 0126-5008
eISSN: 0126-8694