A trip to Kuala Kangsar would not be complete without purchasing the royal town's famous handicraft, the 'labu
sayong'.

Labu sayong, a handicraft made of clay, has not only gained the attention of locals, but from people across the country, as well as abroad.

What's most encouraging is the product is also undergoing a revolution, and entrepreneurs have diversified it into various forms from its original use as a water storage container or for purely decorative purposes.

According to the Perak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Multimedia and Communications Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi, there were 128 labu sayong entrepreneurs in Kuala Kangsar registered with the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan) of which about 90 were active.

"They produce labu sayong, either alone, or through the cooperative we have set up in Kampung Kepala Bendang, Sayong.

"The labu sayong produced is to meet the demand for souvenirs, for daily use, or to be exported abroad," she told Bernama here.

Looking at the potential of the product, which could create more economic opportunities for the locals, the state government had held a series of workshops to improve the aesthetic value of the product.

She said the effort was not only to explore export opportunities for labu sayong, but also to create a 'centre of excellence' for the handicraft in Sayong itself.

"The state government, along with government agencies such as SIRIM (Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia) and Kraftangan are applying for funding to be approved," she said when contacted by Bernama, here.

She said there were also entrepreneurs who had been given assistance by Kraftangan, in the form of kilns worth RM50,000 to RM200,000, for them to increase production.

Meanwhile, SIRIM is studying the health benefits of the water stored in the water containers, which were made from high-grade clay.

A businessman, Shahizol Alang Othman, who had 22 years' experience in the industry said since he received a new kiln, production had increased by 40 per cent compared to before.

Shahizol, 38, who hails from Kampung Kepala Bendang said he could sell 100 to 200 labu sayong a month, according to the season.

"Apart from making labu sayong as souvenirs and water containers, I also produce it in the form of bedside lamps, and small containers, as well as cute animated characters," he said.

Shahizol runs his business with his wife, and now had two workshops as well as a showroom, in Sayong and Padang Rengas.

He sells his products from as low as RM1.20 to RM200, depending on the size and type.

Shahizol, who inherited his handicraft skills from his grandmother said the high quality labu sayong were produced when burned at temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius for a suitable amount of time.

"To avoid it from breaking and not being durable, I maintain combustions at the appropriate temperature for a suitable timeframe, and with the help of the oven (kiln) from Kraftangan, I can burn up to 70 medium-sized labu sayong at a time," he said.

He said the demand for good quality labu sayong and unique designs from customers and tourists were among the factors which drove him to be more competitive.

Water stored in labu sayong containers are said to be more fresh, cool, and tasty, besides being nutritious.