Mats, baskets, and bags made of mengkuang or screwpine leaves are some of the craft products used by people in the past. Today, these products have been replaced with modern products.

For people living in kampung, vessel have been used to store water and kept near the entrance of a house so that people can wash their feet before entering the house. Also, guests would sit on mengkuang mats.

These days, it is rare to see such water containers by the side of a staircase, and even if there is a water container, it would serve as a decorative item. The mengkuang mats have been replaced with plastic mats or colourful carpets.

Sadly, there are very few people who are skilled in weaving mengkuang mats or baskets these days, compelling consumers to purchase plastic mats at retail shops.

Since they are not used widely by large groups of people, youngsters are amazed at such craft products that are displayed at fairs. Some speak highly of the fine work of the craft.

Crafts made of screwpine leaves, pandan leaves, rattan, bamboo, and clay are beautiful, and their creators are highly creative and hardworking.

This mengkuang mat is really beautiful and its weaving is extremely intricate… the person who weaved the mat is surely someone who is patient and creative.

Mengkuang (Pandanus odoratissimus), is a huge pandan-like plant that grows along the back mangroves and also found in the local jungles. The fruits can be eaten, and leaves may be used to weaving

Weaving used to be a leisurely pastime of coastal village women in the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia during the rainy months. Today, it is a thriving cottage industry. The tall, thorny leaves of the pandanus ormengkuang are collected, boiled, dyed and made into colourful gift boxes, mats, beach bags, hats, fans, purses, and slippers

Mengkuang weaving usually practiced by womenfolk in the rural kampung areas. The process requires patience, skill and dedication.
The leaves after having stripped of its thorns, are first are split into long strands, soaked and dried in the sun. Once dried, it is boiled and dyed with vegetable colours.

It is then woven according to the required designs. The design of motifs or kelarai is usually based on plant, flora and fauna and even animals

Looking at the material and shape of the woven products, initially the craft is created with emphasis is on usage more than anything else. As skills developed, this concept has changed, especially the art of weaving mats, where several types of kelarai are made into decorative pieces. Skill is needed to make kelarai and the experts in this art have begun to realize the concept of beauty and aesthetics. Kelarai or ragi are named and shaped after flowers, bamboo as well as other rural elements or pursuits
The numerous items made are both unique and eye-catching. Being decorative as well as useful, the items are excellent purchase be it for self or as gifts for weddings, souvenirs and ornamental hand-outs

The process of mat weaving passes through several stages. First the pandan or mengkuang leaves are cut at the base and at both ends. The thorns and the spine of the leaves are removed and the leaves measured so that there is an even length of all in a set. This is to facilitate weaving. The strips are then passed over a slight fire to soften them. Some weavers beat the mengkuang leaves with cudgels or clubs (belantan) to make them softer and easier to handle. Once softened, they are soaked in cold water for about 48 hours with the water being changed on the second morning. This is done to remove any natural elements likely to attract insects to the mats.

Kelarai or ragi, Kelarai Pucuk Rebung, Kelarai Siku Keluang, Kelarai Bunga Cina, Kelarai Bunga Cengih and Kelarai Jari Kedidi are some of the traditional designs still in use today.