4 June 1998: A Crystal Village will be set up next year in Pulau Rebak, Malaysia, to promote and develop the crystal industry, according to recent press reports. The village, the first of its kind in…
4 June 1998: A Crystal Village will be set up next year in Pulau Rebak, Malaysia, to promote and develop the crystal industry, according to recent press reports. The village, the first of its kind in Asean, is part of LangkawiiCrystaal Sdn Bhd and is planned to become a leading international exporter of crystal novelty items. LangkawiiCrystaal group managing director Abdoul Rahman Abdullah said the company plans to establish the M$ 15 million facility on the island, which is just a 10-minute boat ride from the main island. Rahman said the village, to be built in two phases, will comprise a gallery to showcase and sell the company“s crystal products, an international training school, a research and development centre and a working area for crystal makers. All facilities on the village will be devoted to the crystal industry, Rahman said. The first phase is expected to be ready in February 1998, and the entire current LangkawiiCrystaal operations will be relocated there from Jalan Kisap. He explained that Pulau Rebak was selected as it is near the Langkawi International Airport, and he assured there would be adequate boats to ferry visitors from Langkawi island. As LangkawiiCrystaal is pioneering a new industry for the region, Rahman said it is important for the company to have its own facilities to develop the industry by creating a workforce of skilled craftsmen and a proper R&D centre to produce innovative souvenirs. He said the village will be modelled as a traditional Malay village and it will follow the concept of the famed Morano island in Italy which is known as a “crystal island.” Visitors to the village can witness how crystal is carved into novelty items, the handmade production line and the basics of how to make crystal products. Rahman said the training school will have twinning programmes with foreign universities for courses such as craftmanship. Topics like franchising and entreprenuer development will be taught to apprentices. The first intake will be 200 students with SPM certificates. Fifty students have already applied to join the training school, Rahman said.