Certification Mark for Sabah Handicrafts

Craft customers, particularly tourists visiting Sabah, are perplexed because they cannot make the proper decision on craft selection because the government does not guarantee the authenticity of craft objects offered in the local market. Sabah currently lacks on monitoring authority that can ensure the authenticity of native artisan items. To address this issue, a certification marks needs to be proposed to aid, safeguard and promote the growth of handicrafts in Sabah. This certification mark may be registered for through the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation (MyIPO) under the Trademark component. Among the objectives of this proposed Handicraft Certification are: to assist customers identify genuine local handicraft products (Sabah) through the marking “Authentic Sabah Crafts”. Secondly, to protect the interests of craftsmen and entrepreneurs in the state of Sabah. Thirdly, ensuring the reputation and quality of Sabah crafts are at a satisfactory level. The evaluation criteria for obtaining this certification are divided into five criteria, namely, motifs, patterns, colors, materials and processes in Sabah handicrafts produced by locals. This certification will help local craftsmen to further increase their knowledge of intellectual property protection and its potential that can be applied to their products. With that, the craftsmen will be more sensitive to their rights as guardians of the ancestral heritage and defend the quality of crafts in Sabah.