Ethnicity and the shaping of the Malaysian cultural landscape: The art of mat weaving of the Ulu Sarawak people

Malaysia is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, and the shaping of the Malaysian cultural landscape necessitates the understanding and appreciation of each of its ethnics’ cultural heritage and tradition. The state of Sarawak is inhabited by 27 ethnic groups that practice their own language, culture and way of life. Its Orang Ulu community relies heavily on the ingenuity of their hands to meet both their economic and social needs. This study examined the mat weaving art of the Orang Ulu which embodied a cultural art defined by their own knowledge, customs, beliefs and traditional practices passed on from generation to generation. The conclusion was that this cultural product of the Orang Ulu would need further promotions in the way of modern technology and commercialization in order to really benefit the community that produced it.