KOTA BARU: Waste not, want not. A homestay worker has applied this mantra to earn extra income using natural and discarded materials in Kampung Kijang here.
It began last year as a hobby to fill his spare time but has since grown into a side business that is attracting increasing interest.
His handicrafts appeal not only to locals but also tourists from Italy and Germany.
Mohd Zuki Ramli, 28, better known as “Zuki Tarzan”, uses coconut shells, fibre and betel nut fronds as the main components of his handicrafts.
“Orders come from across the country, but what delights me most is when foreign tourists also buy and take these crafts home.
“It feels great that even village creations can reach the global market,” he told Bernama recently.
Mohd Zuki, who works as an assistant at a homestay near his village, uses discarded materials to create various designs such as seagulls, turtles, ants, grasshoppers, as well as sailboats.
Each piece is crafted meticulously, using tin weights so that the heads move when blown by the wind, giving the creations a more lively and appealing effect.
Among the more popular items is the ant figure, which uses wooden chains and coconut blossoms for legs, preserving the authenticity of the material.
He also produces miniature bonsai flowers and taro leaves from used drink bottles, shaped and coloured to resemble natural hues to highlight the concept of environmental sustainability.
“Each item is priced between RM20 and nearly RM100 depending on size and degree of detail,” he said.
Mohd Zuki said he does not paint the entire craft as he wants to retain the natural look of the fibre and coconut shell, opting instead to apply just enough to give the artwork a sheen and a “living” effect.
“To me, these crafts are not just decorative items but a symbol of how natural and discarded materials can be salvaged and turned into something valuable,” he said.
He hopes his innovative creations will inspire young people to explore handicraft and use natural resources to earn an income while promoting Malaysia on the world stage.
