Tapping into the market for antiques in Kota Baru, Kelantan

Compiled by JAROD LIM and MAHADHIR MONIHULDIN

A MAN in Kota Baru, Kelantan, has been doing well selling second-hand antiques for the past 30 years, Sinar Harian reported.

Shaari Abdullah, 54, sells pre-loved items including lamps, cooking pans, watches, water bottles and newspaper racks every Friday at Medan Ilmu.

Shaari, a father of four children aged 17 to 26, said he buys the items either from antique shops or people who sell them because the items were faulty or no longer needed.

“Some antiques were faulty and couldn’t be used so I had to fix them with newer parts.

“There was a watch that needed its battery changed and another antique that needed repainting to give it a fresh look before being sold,” he added.

Shaari, who used to be an ice-cream seller, said there are many antiques in Kelantan.

“I’ve travelled to Kuala Krai many times because many antique collectors want to sell their items,” he said.

He added that many people want to buy these antiques as they remind them of olden times or because they want to add them to their collections.

He also said the price depends on the cost to repair them and how much he paid the original owner.

“Some antiques cost hundreds of ringgit because of their aesthetic value,” he added.

> Actress and singer Layla Sania, 21, said she is anxious about being a public figure, Harian Metro reported.

Layla said she has to be careful with her actions because many people look up to her.

“Being a public figure scares me, but I am ready because I have family, friends and supporters who love me and will be by my side.

“I will always be myself and continue a normal life. I just have to be wary of my actions and be disciplined at all times wherever I go,” she added.

Layla became famous after she was featured on the Times Square billboard in New York in 2021 through her Equal campaign sponsored by music streaming platform Spotify.

The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.