MAKING parangs and swords is Hipni Anggas’s passion. Give him a piece of metal and he will turn it into a beautiful kris, samurai sword or an Iban sword.
Some years ago, the 68-year-old from Kampung Lintang Ja’ie in Asajaya, Samarahan, Sarawak, made a rare 27-lobe kris which was presented to the then Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, the Sultan of Perlis.
Impressed with his craftsmanship, Kraftangan Malaysia, Sarawak Division, provides him with a RM500 monthly allowance to train potential craftsmen. Hipni has trained eight people so far. Kraftangan Malaysia also contributed RM50,000 to set up a workshop near his house.
Hipni, who sells his works mainly to tourists, says he can make between RM3,000 and RM4,000 a month.
He first tried to make a parang 10 years ago when he was working in Singapore. There, he could get scrap metal and steel bars quite easily. In his leisure hours, he would beat a scrap metal bar into shape, and eventually made his first parang. He has kept the parang as he says it has brought him good luck.
When he returned to Sarawak and looked for a new way to make a living, his thoughts naturally turned to this newfound interest.
He bought scrap steel at RM3 a kg. With charcoal, sandpaper, a hammer and a little foundry, he was soon in business. Hipni starts work as early as six in the morning and can make a parang in two hours but needs a whole day to make a kris. Samurai swords are made only when commissioned.
Among the items he produces are parang chan dong, parang rambo, parang tanking, parang badik, pisau raut and samurai swords. He charges from RM100 to over RM300.
He says tourists like the parang rambo which can also be used to open bottles and cut trees. Other popular items are parang badik which can be used to cut grass and trees and pisau raut, a little sharp knife with a long handle.
Of his seven children, only one son, Budiman, is following in his footsteps.
Another important part of sword making is the art of sheath making, which Hipni learned from a Sabahan. He uses special woods such as kayu champedek and kayu renggas which are found near his village.
He can make one sheath in an hour although sheaths with more elaborate carvings will require up to two hours to finish. Hipni also makes rings with agate stones found in the hills near his village.
Source : Travel *NST Online
