Design motive and pattern in screwpine and pandan plaiting from Peninsular Malaysia

Plaiting is one of the crafts that has been passed down from generation to generation in Malay culture and this art brings awareness to anyone for the aesthetic value that it possesses. This craft started since the age of Neolithic but it keeps evolving through time due to the increasing demands and the element of creativity that the individuals who do it. However, despite of the fact that the demand for the plaiting crafts is high, it does not mean that we do not need to preserve this valuable treasure from vanishing through the rapid flow of modernization. Continuous effort must be carried out in order to ensure that the youths of today are still able to appreciate the fineness of this art that is originated from their ancestors which money cannot value. The effort put by the precious generations has brought our nation to the eyes of the world which we are known for this art by the world community. This art is also a form of identity to our nation which is very unique and authentic. The skill of plaiting is passed down or taught informally in order to avoid it from becoming extinct by time. In order to obtain accurate information, the researcher carried out interview sessions with some of the people who involved with the plaiting skill directly and indirectly at the Kuala Lumpur Craft Centre and other branches in Terengganu, Kedah and Melaka. The interview sessions for the respective states are vital for the research in trying to identify the types of motive and patterns that have been chosen for the plaiting if screwpine (mengkuang) and pandan (pandanus) can be found in these three states. This research would lead to discover new method of plaiting or develop into contemporary design for screwpine and pandan products for commercialization.