KOTA KINABALU: Thirty years ago, women from Kampung Batu Lunguyan in Sook earned just RM300 per month each from selling traditional handicrafts.
Today, the community — now comprising 55 active members — earns a collective RM135,000 per month, thanks to their three-generation-old craft of weaving with bamboo, rattan, and pandan leaves.
Lunguyan Handicraft manager Renny Jeneble, 45, said the growth of the handicraft industry had significantly improved the socioeconomic status of women in the remote village.
"For those involved, they now own houses and cars and can ensure their children complete tertiary education.
"This handicraft industry has proven to be an effective means of boosting the community's economy," she said when met at the lobby of the Sabah State Assembly (DUN) during the week-long 2025 Budget sitting that began last Friday.
Renny said that while most villagers were once engaged in farming, women were now heavily involved in production, while youths handled the marketing.
Located about 60km from Keningau town, the village has seen significant economic transformation.
She credited the exponential growth in sales to the support from the government and various agencies, including Yayasan Sabah, the Sabah Women Affairs Council, and the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.
The community has benefited from grants, bulk purchases as corporate gifts, and indirect marketing efforts.
During the 2022 Budget presentation, the then-Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz used woven folders from the village to hold budget documents.
"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun have also purchased bags from us.
"Government officials typically prefer folder bags, but our best-seller is the 'vinatu' (woven) folder," she said.
This marks Renny's first time selling their products at the Sabah State Assembly (DUN), and she was pleasantly surprised by the higher-than-expected sales, even with a smaller crowd compared to other venues.