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kevinkhaw1997
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kevinkhaw1997 The one and only Songkok Maker in Penang today is the man you are looking at, Mr.Haja. Mr.Haja's shop is located at Little India's Nagore Dargha Temple. The business started back in 1962, when Mr.Haja was still in school, after school he will always go and help his dad to make songkok for a living. At that time, most songkok was handmade, and there are a few shops around Penang for people to buy in.
However, when Industrial Revolution started, songkoks were mass produced by big company. Soon enough, all songkok makers closed down in Penang except for this one. Mr.Haja is now making songkok with his son-in-law, hoping he will pass down the skills and craft which was passed down by his father.
He did mentioned now adays the business was not as good anymore, as less people wear songkoks nowadays. Moreover, most of the songkok is durable, and since it was used only few days a week, it can actually be kept for several years. He also said that, if its not for the cheap rental, they wouldnt have sustained the business for so long.
Mr.Haja's had also been awarded "Living Heritage Treasures of Penang" as he is now the one and only Songkok Maker in Penang. I asked again the same question I asked to other old craft businesses, "What makes you continue to make songkok after all these years?"
The answer from them will always be "Passion". From Mr.Haja's words we can see that he is fully passionate about making songkok and hope to preserve this hundred years old craft.
Mr.Haja doesnt look like he is 73 years old as he is still strong and speaks very clear! He mentioned many of his friends already passed away, but I supposed it was because he has a clear mission in mind to keep going and preserve the art of making songkok in Malaysia.
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2021-04-21
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