The swordmaker of Kg Serdang

THE art of making traditional Malay weapons such as the pedang (sword), keris (traditional Malay dagger) and lembing (spear) is slowly fading in Brunei Darussalam. Yet one man in Kampung Serdang of Jalan Kota Batu still keeps this art alive.

For more than 30 years, 58-year-old Ibrahim Hj Sura has been making pedang and keris. Besides the pedang and keris, Ibrahim also makes parang (machete), lembing and tongkat (walking stick) as well as kirikan (a type of reel used for fishing).

Ibrahim told The Brunei Times that he is the only one in Kampung Serdang who still makes these traditional Malay weapons.

Ibrahim said the types of pedang and keris he makes can be used for weddings, especially as an accessory for the groom. Other kinds of items such as the parang can be used for cutting wood when going into the forest or when farming, said Ibrahim.

Ibrahim said that he started making pedang and keris in his 20s when he was still working with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). He learned the art of making the weapons from his father-in-law.

Ibrahim said making pedang and keris has been his life's passion. He explained that he used to watch people make the weapons and from there his heart opened up to wanting to learn how to make them.

Although Ibrahim makes the pedang and keris, he does not sell them because he makes them for his personal collection.

"Many people have approached me asking if they were for sale but I always tell them 'No'. They are for my personal collection," said Ibrahim.

The traditional swordmaker said that he loves all the pedang and keris that he has made and felt it would be difficult to part with them.

Ibrahim continued to say that even though he does not sell the weapons he makes, people can pay him to make them or they can give him metal pieces. "People can either pay me or give me old metals to make the weapons," said Ibrahim.

To make the pedang and keris, he uses scrap metal that used to be parts of vessels that are no longer in operation. "I use mostly old metals which are no longer used. I get them from old parts of ships, for example," said Ibrahim.

He explained that he and his friends would normally go in a group to find the old metals. Sometimes they even go to the Pusat Kesenian (Arts and Handicraft Centre) to source for raw materials.

Ibrahim said metals that come from parts of old ships sometimes have bunga motifs (markings carved into the metal). The bunga makes the final product look nicer, said Ibrahim.

When making tongkat, he also uses wood. The different combination of woods gives the tongkat its different patterns and colours.

For the kirikan, Ibrahim said he uses wood that is taken from the banir (base) of a tree. The type of wood he uses to make the kirikan is called kayu rangga.

Ibrahim said that old metal or scrap metal which is suitable to make pedang or keris is becoming rare and more difficult to find nowadays.

He then said that there is no specific time that can be given as to when a pedang or keris can be completed as it depends on the type of metal used. For example, if the metal used is taken from the engine of a ship, it is a little tougher to work with because the metal is hard and the weapon made from it would take longer to finish.

Ibrahim explained that to make the pedang or keris, the metal has to be heated and pounded.

After heating and pounding, the metal is shaped into the pedang or keris. It is then cleaned using acid to show the bunga and then oiled to prevent rusting. The handle and sheath is then made.

The sheath of the pedang and keris are made of wood. Ibrahim said to make the sheath for the pedang or keris he uses different kinds of wood. Some of the woods he used were the bulian, kayu malam and mengaris types.

Ibrahim said that currently he is not making any pedang or keris as he needs a suitable place to carry out the activities. He normally makes the metal items at his home.

He said that in the future he would probably make pedang or keris for sale through his village's MPK or Village Consultative Council.

On June 10, 2012, Hj Abdul Hamid Dato Hj Abdullah, the Assistant District Officer of Brunei-Muara had visited Ibrahim's home to look at his metal works.

Ibrahim told The Brunei Times that the Assistant District Officer said that the Brunei-Muara District office would help him by preparing the budget for the construction of a place where Ibrahim can carry out his metal work.

Ibrahim mentioned that it would be a shame if the traditional art of making pedang or keris is discontinued.

At the moment, Ibrahim said that he is teaching some of the villagers how to make the swords and daggers.

Ibrahim said there are about seven people comprising youth and pensioners learning the art of making traditional weapons from him. The Brunei Times