Hi,
Yup, have thought of asking a carpenter to do it but my speakers are in Malaysia, not Singapore and so far, no shop/carpenter is interested to take up this job. Thus, might have to resort to DIY and I think it will be an interesting project to undertake

Paperbacked veneers are commonly used for speaker cabinets, automotive dashboard, cabinets etc. so they are durable enough. Importantly is to not leave them untreated and to coat them with choice of protective finish (PU, Shellac, Tung oil, Linseed oil etc) once the adhesive is fully cured.
Will post updates on this when I finally get started on the project. Will have to firstly remove all speaker units, crossover, wiring and have the bare cabinet ready for sanding, filling and PU topcoat before the veneering process.