Compiled by FAZLEENA AZIZ, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN
IN an era where digital messages have largely replaced traditional Hari Raya greeting cards, Muhammad Azim Azizan stands out for his dedication to penning greetings, Sinar Harian reported.
Every Hari Raya, the 27-year-old sends physical greeting cards to friends and notable individuals as a gesture of remembrance.
“I believe physical cards are more meaningful because they can be kept forever. It conveys a deeper feeling than a greeting on social media,” he said when met at his home in Kampung Naga in Kepala Batas, Kedah.
Muhammad Azim’s passion for collecting greeting cards stems from his father, Azizan Haroon, 61, who began the same hobby in the 1970s.
Their collection now exceeds 4,000 cards, including those received from prominent figures such as the Sultan of Johor, Sultan of Pahang, Sultan of Brunei, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and government leaders.
Despite their high sentimental value, maintaining the tradition of sending Raya cards is becoming increasingly challenging due to rising card prices and dwindling availability.
“This year alone, I spent nearly RM1,000 on cards and stamps, compared to the RM500 to RM700 I spent previously,” Muhammad Azim said, while adding that receiving greeting cards in the mail gives him immense joy.
“I am most excited when my cards are reciprocated.
“It strengthens the bond and makes me feel truly appreciated,” he said.
The above article is 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 this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
