Batik face masks must comply with MOH standards - Nancy

The production and use of batik face masks is encouraged but they must comply with the standards set by the Ministry of Health (MOH), said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

Nancy said that the use of batik face masks can help promote the country’s batik identity as well as reduce the burden of the users because they can be recycled.

Nancy said this at a press conference after launching MyCraftShopee and reopening the Karyaneka branch at the Parliament Building here, today.

Apart from that, she said that there was demand for batik face masks because they were seen as an attraction especially among those from abroad.

They are also environmentally friendly and help reduce the ten million face masks thrown away every day in the country.

Meanwhile, Nancy said that due to the effects of COVID-19, Kraftangan Malaysia had projected a new target for craft sales this year of RM200 million compared with the initial target of RM500 million.

“I am very optimistic that this target can be achieved, especially with the launch of the MyCraftShopee digital platform and the demand from craft enthusiasts as well as the quality of our craft is not much different from other well-known brands,” she said.

As at June, the sales value of craft products reached RM134.6 million with the involvement of 5,885 craft entrepreneurs.

Nancy said that in facing the COVID-19 pandemic challenge, Kraftangan Malaysia also launched an initiative on social media, namely the Facebook group known as e-Kraf bazaar since March with a membership of 12,176 people, with 1,122 craft entrepreneurs and total sales of RM4.21 million.

In addition, a 'CraftOnTheGo' smartphone application was also introduced to provide digital services of geo-location directory information containing craft entrepreneur profiles, product descriptions, images, social media information and outlet locations that can be accessed directly via Google Maps.

As at July 31, this application has featured a total of 923 craft entrepreneur profiles and has been downloaded 1,389 times.

--BERNAMA