MAKING PAPERS FROM BANANA STEM

By Balkish Awang

PENANG (Malaysia), June 24 (Bernama) -- The call to help preserve the
environment prompted a local entrepreneur Sulaiman Ramli, 42, to try his hand in
manufacturing products using natural material like plant fibers.

Today, his company Pisang Kraf makes decorations for lighting fixtures,
greeting cards and gift boxes using papers made from banana fiber and the
products have been well received up to Australia.

During a recent media visit to Pisang Kraf organised by Kraftangan Malaysia,
Sulaiman told the visitors that the idea of making papers using banana fibers
was first mooted by Pulau Betong state assemblyman Mohd Farid Saad.

"Mohd Farid who was in Chiang Mai to learn from the `One Village One
Industry' programme, found a village producing papers from banana tree fibers.

"Upon his return, Mohd Farid proposed the idea to me," said Sulaiman who
started the company in 2006 with a partner.

"As I was keen to start my own business, and was looking for a product that
is not available in the market yet, something different, with handicraft
elements, I was willing to give it a try," he said.

For a start Mohd Farid provided a capital of RM23,000 and Sulaiman himself
chipped in another RM5,000.

"After discussing with Mohd Farid I went to Universiti Sains Malaysia's
(USM) Art Centre to see for myself how papers are produced using banana fibers,
and ever since I made up my mind to take up the venture and learn more of the
process from USM," he said.

Due to the interest shown by Sulaiman, USM invested RM1 million to help him
procure the state of the art equipment and also provided the know how through
two of its experts.

At present three workers are helping him out.

Even from the outset, Sulaiman has been optimistic that his products are
special and there is a big market potential for them.

"I'm the first here to produce papers from banana stem fiber and to start
the venture more than 40 hectares of land have been planted with banana trees,"
he said.

Sulaiman in explaining the paper making process said the banana stems had to
be immersed in water for two months before its fiber can be harvested.

"It is best to use the `pisang rawak' stem as its fibers are finer compared
with other banana varieties.

"After immersing in the water for two months the stems turn dark but the
fibers start to come off from the stem and are light in color," he added.

Subsequently the fibers are boiled for an hour before being pressed into
shape using a hydraulic machine. The process also removes the water. The sheet
is then pasted on the wall for three days for drying. To make color papers, the
color can be added when the fibers are still wet.

In a day he could produce up to 60 sheets of A3 size papers using five of
six stems with each sold at RM5.

Using the banana fiber paper, Sulaiman has diversified its use by making
lighting decorations, boxes, paper bags, greeting cards and picture frames.

Sulaiman said he is happy for the fact that Kraftangan Malaysia is helping
him to succeed and has taken him all over Malaysia to introduce papers made from
banana fiber.

"Each month I will follow the kraftangan group, and thank god now the
product is receiving attention," he said.

Sulaiman is now taking steps to penetrate the market with his products and
is eyeing several leading hotels and bridal boutiques in Penang.

"At present, many of my products are being sought by Koperasi Keusahawanan
Kampung in Balik Pulau, and I'm now marketing this products in the hotels around
here and slowly moving towards boutiques," he said.

At the bridal boutiques, Sulaiman said he has been promoting lighting
decorations that can be used to decorate the wedding dais.

"This is a novel idea and I hope that this decoration for the lightings can
be used on the dais, and I will even consider marketing them at the overseas
boutiques if there is a good demand," he said adding that he earns between
RM3,000 and 5,000 per month.

Sulaiman today is a reputed producer and supplier of banana fiber paper and
his products have reached as far as Indonesia and Australia.

"In Malaysia the demand for the paper and products made by my company is
centred around Alor Star, Kuala Lumpur and Sabah, and now I have received orders
from Australia, mostly for lighting decorations.

"My hopes are that this product will be well received and I want to produce
more papers, up to 800 pieces per month," said the father of six.

Sulaiman does not deny the fact that he is better off now compared with
when he was a driver before.
-- BERNAMA