KUALA LUMPUR, February 17 – In a landmark move to bolster Malaysia’s textile heritage preservation, Yayasan Hasanah and CENTEXS have officially sealed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 5th, 2024. The strategic partnership, marked during CENTEXS Convocation Ceremony, aims to advance capacity development, cross-skills fertilisation, and excellence promotion in heritage textile preservation. The collaboration includes skill development workshops, training programs, and master classes to enhance the proficiency of traditional textile artisans, fostering collaborations with contemporary designers for innovative product development.
Dato’ Shahira Ahmed Bazari, Trustee and Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah, highlighted the significance of the collaboration in amplifying research, development, and commercialisation efforts within Malaysia’s heritage textile space. The partnership with CENTEXS aims to upgrade the skills of traditional practitioners, ensuring the preservation of excellence in art forms while transforming heritage textiles into a thriving economic sector for local artisans. This initiative aligns with Hasanah’s broader efforts, including digital documentation of legacy motifs, establishment of experiential centers, and training programs like the ASPIRE Programme for youth in heritage textile arts.
The MoU underscores CENTEXS’ commitment to equipping the state’s workforce for various economic sectors, including lifestyle and heritage. Dato Haji Syeed Mohd Hussien Bin Wan Abdul Rahman, CEO of CENTEXS, emphasized the institute’s mission to be a regional leader in technology training by 2030. Through this partnership, CENTEXS aims to co-design impactful training programs, ensuring traditional artisans stay abreast of technological advances relevant to their craft, thus fostering a robust workforce in the heritage sector. This collaboration aligns with Yayasan Hasanah’s broader vision of promoting Malaysia’s global sustainability through human capital development and community empowerment initiatives.
