Traditional craft: Haja Mohideen sewing a songkok at his shop in King Street in George Town, Penang.
GEORGE TOWN: An elderly songkok maker is embracing new technology to reach out to his customers this Hari Raya.
Since his shop in Little India is forced to close after the movement control order (MCO) began on March 18, the enterprising 73-year-old Haja Mohideen Mohammed Shariff has been taking orders over social media.
“Some of my regular customers managed to walk in and order their songkok before the MCO started last month.
“The other orders are made through WhatsApp. My son-in-law helps with orders coming in that way. We are receiving more orders, ” he said.
For now, Haja Mohideen said he used courier service to deliver songkok to customers.
“I can make five or six songkok per day as I spend about two hours on each headgear.
“The songkok is priced between RM30 and RM35 depending on the size. I only add a minimal charge for delivery.
“If the MCO is lifted, then my customers can walk in, ” he said, adding that he was expecting business to be slow this year.
Haja Mohideen has been making songkok since 1962, having picked up the skills of the vanishing trade from his father who started in 1936.
Back then, the silk velvet used to cover the headgear’s outer layer was imported from Italy and Germany.
Among those who have ordered his songkok are Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and several cabinet ministers.
In 2017, Haja Mohideen was awarded the Living Heritage Treasures Award of Penang by the Penang Heritage Trust. - Star
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