Her upbringing left a lasting impression on the importance of preserving the Malay cloth. In 2005, she led an initiative under the Royal Pahang Weave Foundation to revive the weaving industry, which was on a steep decline with a mere 15 weavers left, mostly in Kampung Pulau Keladi in Pekan. The programme involved educating inmates at Bentong and Penor prison in the traditional weaving techniques to produce patterns designed by Her Majesty. They were also encouraged to be innovators in the space, moving beyond conventional ideas and expressing themselves artistically through the craft. They were paid for their work and offered employment under the queen’s social enterprise, Cheminahsayang, upon their release. Today, these prisoners make up more than half of the 300 specialist weavers in the country.

“As the Royal patron of all prison crafts in Malaysia, I have had the privilege of working with prisoners to preserve our local crafts. These are talented individuals who have so much to offer,” she enthuses. “In fact, I made it a point to include Malaysian prison inmates in our first exhibition at London Craft Week.”

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The prestigious London Craft Week celebrates exceptional craftsmanship from around the world. For two years, Her Majesty has spearheaded Malaysia’s participation with beautiful displays and live demonstrations of traditional crafts; the inaugural exhibition was dedicated to prison- woven tenun and the most recent exhibition brought together craft practices from all over the country, including telepuk (textile gilding), songket (brocade), and tribal beading. “I wanted to highlight their unique story and show the world a rehabilitation programme that prepares prisoners for a hopeful, optimistic journey into the real world by giving them something to fall back on,” she says.

From May 13-19, 2024, the Malaysian Pavilion, co-organised by the Royal Pahang Weave Foundation and Kraftangan Malaysia and patronised by Her Majesty, at London Craft Week 2024 will continue to promote local crafts.

See also: Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage List: Why the traditional kebaya blouse should be included

By raising the profile of Malaysia’s rich heritage in crafts, Her Majesty aims to “foster interest especially among young people” and inspire them to get involved with the movement of preservation, whether it’s learning or documenting the traditional techniques or even incorporating heritage fabrics into their daily wardrobe. She comments that it is crucial for the work of preserving crafts in Southeast Asia to be carried on to the next generation.

“We have seen the efforts of the Malaysian government in promoting the batik fabric over the last thirty years; it would not be where it is today without exposing it to young people and renewing their interest in the craft,” she asserts.

That is where parents can also play a part in opening the eyes of their children to the world of crafts. “My 21-year-old daughter (Her Royal Highness Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah Athiyatullah) grew up watching me and the work that I do. She is pursuing an arts degree, with a major in textile arts. I’m so proud of her and I hope she will lead the way in this endeavour.

“I spoke to her just last night about producing a single piece for her final university project that honours all the different weaving traditions of each region in Malaysia. I recently concluded the Kembara Kenali Borneo tour of Sabah and Sarawak and saw firsthand all the beautiful crafts they have to offer. Perhaps she will take my suggestion; we’ll see!” she laughs.

In her two decades at the helm of the Royal Pahang Weave Foundation, Queen Azizah’s impact has been felt deeply by the local and international community, and she intends to double down on her commitments to the industry as she prepares for a new chapter in her royal duties. She imparts words of encouragement to Malaysians to explore their local heritage: “These are the ties that bind us together as a nation.”

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