The foreign and domestic journalists coming for Ishak Abdullah and his son Juliadi, was an ordinary experience. Amidst the hustle and bustle of journalists covering military operations in Aceh, there are one or two who take the opportunity to cover cultural issues such as rencong makers. Aceh is known as Tanah Rencong. Ironically, finding such a maker is so difficult that journalist references solely to Ishak Abdullah.
"The journalists from American, Japan, have been here before. They even forbid me to use blowers when they take pictures. I wish with the manual tool...” the story of Ishak Abdulla, some time ago.
Juliadi, son of Ishak Abdullah, replied, "Many journalists have written. Whether local, national, or foreign. But still no one cares...”
"Like a dog barking plane," Ishak continued again in Aceh. That is, although the profiles of rencong makers have written various media, no one concerned about the sustainability of the craft. Not the community, nor the government.
Several times Isaac submitted a proposal to the Department of Industry and Commerce. But, have not once managed to get help for small and medium enterprises. The farther into the corners, the smaller the funds are dripping. The less networked, the harder it is to get capital aid.
"If there is capital, I want to buy more raw materials and grinding machines. So, all can provide jobs for others and lower the skills to make rencong," says Ishak without intending to boast.
He claimed to have taught some youths in Meunasah Blang Subdistrict Tanah Pasir, North Aceh, to learn to make rencong. But because they are not diligent, they finally stop. "Now they are pulling RBT," Ishak said. RBT is an Acehnese term for motorcycle taxi drivers. The extension sounds a bit bitter; Rakyat Banting Tulang (People's Bones).
Thank goodness there is Juliadi. After helping his father, now he can make his own rencong. Isaac said, he had dared to give some orders to Juliadi because his skills are very good.
Until 1993, there were still three people who made rencong hands in North Aceh. However, two of them later died. "Now only just Pak Ishak," said Razali, a resident of Tanah Pasir sub-district.
Razali who is a dozen years old honorary and has not been appointed a civil servant, not interested in plunge into "mpu" (master) rencong despite grandfather and his father maker rencong. In fact, during his lifetime, his father was also a civil servant. "Home office, my father immediately entered teumpeun (workshop) to make rencong," Razali said with a laugh.
If it is Ishak Abdullah living alone who produces rencong handmade, local authorities need to immediately provide training to the younger generation, so there is a transfer of skills so not extinct. Local government must also bridge rencong makers with banks in order to obtain soft loans and build market networks. Do not let there is no younger generation who want to make rencong. Do not let the rencong maker is rare in Tanah Rencong (read: Rencong Land).[]
Didatangi wartawan dalam dan luar negeri, bagi Ishak Abdullah dan putranya Juliadi, adalah pengalaman biasa. Di tengah hiruk-pikuk wartawan meliput operasi militer di Aceh, ada satu dua yang mengambil kesempatan untuk meliput isu-isu budaya seperti pembuat rencong. Aceh dikenal sebagai Tanah Rencong. Ironisnya, mencari pembuat demikian sulit sehingga referensi jurnalis melulu ke Ishak Abdullah.
“Wartawan Amerika, Jepang, pernah ke mari. Mereka bahkan melarang saya menggunakan blower ketika mereka mengambil gambar. Maunya dengan alat manual...” cerita Ishak Abdulla, beberapa waktu lalu.
Juliadi, putra Ishak Abdullah, menimpali, “Banyak wartawan sudah menulis. Baik lokal, nasional, maupun asing. Tapi tetap tak ada yang peduli...”
“Seperti anjing menggonggong pesawat,” sambung Ishak lagi dalam bahasa Aceh. Maksudnya, kendati profil pembuat rencong sudah ditulis berbagai media, tidak ada yang peduli akan keberlangsungan kerajinan tersebut. Tidak masyarakat, tidak juga pemerintah.
Beberapa kali Ishak mengajukan proposal ke Dinas Perindustrian dan Perdagangan. Tapi, belum sekali pun berhasil mendapatkan bantuan untuk usaha kecil menengah. Semakin ke pelosok, semakin kecil dana itu menetes. Semakin tak punya jaringan, semakin susah mendapatkan bantuan modal.
“Kalau ada modal, saya ingin membeli lebih banyak bahan baku dan mesin gerinda. Jadi, sekalian bisa memberi pekerjaan bagi orang lain dan menurunkan keterampilan membuat rencong,” ujar Ishak tanpa bermaksud menyombongkan diri.
Dia mengaku pernah mengajarkan beberapa pemuda di Meunasah Blang Kecamatan Tanah Pasir, Aceh Utara, untuk belajar membuat rencong. Tapi karena tidak tekun, akhirnya mereka berhenti. “Sekarang mereka menjadi penarik RBT,” ujar Ishak. RBT merupakan sebutan masyarakat Aceh untuk tukang ojek. Kepanjangannya terdengar sedikit pahit; Rakyat Banting Tulang.
Syukurlah masih ada Juliadi. Setelah membantu ayahnya, kini dia sudah bisa membuat rencong sendiri. Ishak menuturkan, dirinya sudah berani menyerahkan beberapa order kepada Juliadi karena keterampilannya sudah sangat lumayan.
Sampai 1993, masih ada tiga orang yang membuat rencong tangan di Aceh Utara. Namun, dua orang di antaranya kemudian meninggal. “Sekarang tinggal Pak Ishak saja,” ungkap Razali, warga Kecamatan Tanah Pasir.
Razali yang belasan tahun berstatus honorer dan belum diangkat menjadi PNS, tidak tertarik terjun menjadi “mpu” rencong kendati kakek dan ayahnya pembuat rencong. Padahal, semasa hidup, ayahnya juga seorang PNS. “Pulang kantor, ayah saya langsung masuk teumpeun (bengkel) untuk membuat rencong,” kata Razali sambil tertawa.
Kalau memang Ishak Abdullah tinggal sendiri yang memproduksi rencong handmade, pemerintah setempat perlu segera memberikan pelatihan kepada generasi muda, agar ada alih keterampilan sehingga tidak punah. Pemerintal lokal juga harus menjembatani pembuat rencong dengan bank agar bisa mendapatkan kredit lunak dan membangun jaringan pasar. Jangan sampai tidak ada lagi generasi muda yang mau membuat rencong. Jangan sampai pembuat rencong justru langka di Tanah Rencong.[]
