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Published: Wednesday June 24, 2009 MYT 12:01:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday June 24, 2009 MYT 12:04:48 PM

Making paper from banana stem


PENANG: 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 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 RM1mil 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 40ha 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

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