Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah stood in the middle of the stage as she was about to deliver her keynote. After browsing through her notes, the Tengku Ampuan Pahang decided to go off the cuff – to share her experiences instead.
Her keynote address was earlier entitled ‘Textile and Fashion in the Maritime Silk Road’, but she added another word.
“It should be Food, Textile and Fashion in the Maritime Silk Road,” she said, drawing cheers from the 100-odd audience who turned up at the scenic International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC-IIUM) in Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur, this morning.
While Tunku Azizah is known as a foodie – she enjoys food as much as she loves to cook and bake – she has also been at the forefront of preserving Malay heritage in the arts scene, including textile and fashion.
“I come from Johor, and it was different there as we were exposed to other forms of cultures, and the food was infused with the different cultures. But when I started staying in Pahang, I realised that the food in Pahang is very traditional (Malay). And so are the textile and fashion,” said Tunku Azizah.
The member of the Pahang royal household said this before launching the ‘Colloquium on the Malay Maritime History in the World Map’ organised by ISTAC-IIUM. The colloquium is in anticipation of the development of the Pulau Beram Museum: Pahang and the Seas, which is currently being built at the Pahang Museum in Pekan.
The gallery aims to introduce the maritime history of the Malay world, with a special focus on Pahang’s significant role as a key stopover along the global maritime trade route. Also in its vicinity are the Sultan Abdullah Mosque Museum and the Al Sultan Abdullah History & Civilisation Research Centre.
As for fashion and textile, Tunku Azizah drew references from her work with Tenun Pahang Diraja.
“When I first started Tenun Pahang Diraja, we only had 12 weavers. Today, we have some 300 of them. And this is made possible thanks to the Prisons Department by getting the inmates involved in weaving.”
She added that with more people weaving, the craft would remain relevant, and heritage would be preserved. It also provided the current and future generations a glimpse into the Malay tradition of the past, so that its culture and references are better understood and safeguarded.
“We have come a long way in our Benua Melayu. This colloquium is important. And I will make it my duty to ensure the next generation knows more about their heritage and tradition.
“Be proud of the (Malay) heritage. Today, we see even the non-Malays donning Malay outfits during official events. This shows acceptance and how we can learn from one another.”
The two-day event ends tomorrow. Some of the highlights include presentations by Professor Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican (Tanah Air: Hakikat dan Jiwa Kepulauan Melayu), Ramon Vega Piniella (Pahang in Maritime Trade Between Asia and Europe), and Distinguished Professor Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharudin (Tamadun Melayu dalam Peradaban Samudera: Sebuah Pemerhatian Sosiologikal).
