KUDAT: Despite collecting only RM400 in income from selling handicraft last year, Nonjuring Mantuku, 61, remains positive that this year will be a better year, especially for the rural community.
She is among several Rungus women in Kampung Tinanggol here, who get money from making traditional beaded necklaces and clothes to be sold to tourists.
"Last year was tough for everyone.
"We had a lot of unsold handicraft, but we continued making them," she said.
"There were people who came to buy beaded necklaces and a traditional Pinakol attire. I got RM400 from all those purchases, and that was it.
"Even during the Recovery Movement Control Order, no visitors came to our village." To sustain herself, she sold sweet potatoes and pulut inti to villagers.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mantuku said she could collect between RM5,000 and RM7,000 annually, and she would also receive bulk purchases on necklaces from people.
"New opportunity is hard to find, but I am positive that this year will be better than last year. "Tourism will recover and people will visit our village.
"We will continue making handicraft so we can sell them when the time comes.
"I hope that the government will provide training and guidance for the rural community on new opportunities," she said.
Kampung Tinanggol chief Mangambai Sasam said their village was the main producer of Rungus accessories and relied on tourism.
While most women made beaded necklaces and costumes, he said the older men were skilled in making Rungus musical instruments.
"This year, I hope the tourism industry will be back to normal. "I hope that the state government will focus on building up the rural communities.
"In Tinanggol, handicraft making is our only source of income, apart from farming and fishing. The villagers need help to look for and learn new opportunities," he said.
Like Tinanggol's villagers, Semporna Bumiputra Tourism Association chairman Karino Jelani expressed hope that the state government would help in connecting local operators with tourism players in Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, and Brunei.
He said it was necessary for local operators to engage in face-to-face networking to exchange ideas, promote products, and talk about the situation in their areas.
Karino, who operates the Seahorse Sipadan Lodge on Pulau Mabul, was optimistic that tourism would pick up.
"For January, we received a booking for 12 guests to stay at our lodge and dive in Sipadan. We are looking forward to receiving more," he said.
He said many people had enquired about traveling to Semporna, but were deterred by the Covid-19 swab test requirement.
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