HAJA Mohideen Mohd Shariff started learning to make songkok from his father when he was 12 years and took over the business of making and selling songkok after finishing school in the early 1970s.

For the past 50 years, he has worked late into the nights preparing the traditional headgear for Hari Raya from his shop in Penang.

In previous Ramadan, he would make 600 pieces of songkok. This year, the sole songkok-maker in Penang is facing unprecedented challenges.

The Covid-19 pandemic and restriction order hit the 72-year-old’s business badly, resulting in only about 200 orders this Hari Raya.

“My monthly income was about RM1,500-RM1,800. During the regular months, we can sell up to 200 songkok and for Syawal (Hari Raya), we can reach up to 600.

“But as a result of the movement-control order (MCO), demand dropped to 200 songkok.

“In previous years, we used to close our shop on the 27th night of Ramadan because all of our songkok would have been sold out but not this year. We needed more time to finish up all of the orders,” Mohideen told The Malaysian Insight.

The government’s decision to bar interstate travels has also affected his income.

“My customers are not from Penang alone and I have loyal customers, including people from my area. This year my customers could not book a songkok.

“Our business has dropped but thankfully, other businesses helped us survive.”

Long heritage

His father, Mohd Shariff Mohideen Rawhter, started the hand-made songkok business in 1936.

His father rented a small shop next to Masjid Nagore in Lebuh King and it is in the same premises that Mohideen continues his father’s legacy.

Its monthly rent is just RM200, payable to the Penang Islamic Religious Council.

Due to the low rental rates and still having regular customers, Songkok OSM Mohd Shariff is still surviving after 84 years.

Recalling how he got into this business, Mohideen said he would spend hours in his father’s shop during his schooling days.

“After my school session ended, I will head to the store and watch my father work while I did my homework slowly.

“I initially wanted to find a stable job but couldn’t get a job here… so I just went on to sell songkok,” he said.

Mohideen is able to prepare 10 pieces of songkok with the help of his son-in-law, Abdul Kadir Mohd Mydin, 44, in a day.

The shop in George Town is open from 11am to 9pm daily.

At the store, both Mohideen and Kadir sew songkok using a manual sewing machine that is more than 40 years old.

They divide up the work so that more songkok can be prepared.

Customers only need to come to the store to measure their head and pick the material.

“Year after year, there are fewer people wearing songkok. It is also because the songkok can last up to four years.

“In terms of income, our lives are not luxurious and we live moderately,” he said, adding that the songkok sells for RM20 to RM30 each.

Son-in-law to take over

Mohideen said he’s never tired or exhausted every time he paddles his Singer sewing machine that is almost as old as him.

Making songkok is not just a business but also an effort to preserve the heritage of the Pearl of the Orient as he is the sole songkok-maker left, he said.

“When I was a kid, there were seven to eight hand-made songkok shops nearby. Then songkok shops grew in Bayan Lepas, Batu Feringghi and Seberang Perai.

“Now, over the last 10 years, I am the only one left because no one wants to continue the business.

“The songkok is our heritage. If we wear baju Melayu, we must wear the songkok, if not, it’s not complete.”

Besides songkok, Mohideen produces Pakistani tarbus and Afghanistan pakol.

“I also accept booking for Johor songkok which is different from the normal songkok. Most of the orders come from traditional dancers.

“Boria groups usually order tarbus. European tourists also like the tarbus a lot. They say it is expensive in their country. I sell it for only RM35.”

Mohideen said his son-in-law was his main hope of continuing the songkok business.

“I rely on my son-in-law. If he does well, the store will survive.” – May 24, 2020.