JERTIH: From piles of used plastic water bottles collected around an oil palm plantation, an elderly couple in Kampung Baru Tok Dor here have transformed the discarded items into various unique and attractive flower designs as decorations for the National Month celebration.
Their creativity has not only brightened up the village surroundings but also become a symbol of patriotism, while proving that discarded items can be given a new lease of life to create something of value.
Halimah Said, 65, said she and her husband, Mat Ail Mamat, 78, began making the decorations in stages on Aug 1 to participate in a house decoration competition held in conjunction with the National Month celebration at the village level.
"This is the second year we have participated in the house decoration competition. Last year, we came in second and this time we wanted to come up with a different concept by using recycled materials.
"I collected the used water bottles discarded around a nearby oil palm plantation myself before cleaning, cutting and shaping them into flower petals. At least five types of flower models have been made from the discarded bottles, which were then painted and arranged as decorations around the house,” she said when met at her home in Kampung Baru Tok Dor here recently.
Meanwhile, Halimah said she spent about RM100 on red, yellow, white and blue spray paint, while most of the main materials were obtained from discarded items.
She said the flowers were placed in pots and arranged at several points along the fence, while bottles painted red and white were hung alternately on wooden poles, with the Jalur Gemilang displayed above them.
"Besides that, we plan to decorate a trishaw at the front of the house and build a replica of the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers (KLCC) as part of this year’s decorations,” she said.
She said flags from several states were also displayed to liven up the atmosphere, symbolising diversity and love for the country.
Halimah said apart from fostering patriotic spirit, the activity also served as a source of enjoyment in her daily routine of caring for her daughter, Rosnani Mat Ail, 41, who has been disabled since infancy and is bedridden.
She said her children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews also helped print colour photographs of all the former Prime Ministers of Malaysia, together with related information, to be incorporated into the patriotic-themed decorations.
"My nephew, Muhammad Aiman Mat Jusoh, 23, who lives in a nearby village, comes to our house almost every day to help prepare the decorations.
"Through this, we can spend our time on meaningful activities while strengthening family ties,” she said.
She said the use of discarded materials to create the decorations also gave the family an opportunity to express their creativity without having to spend a lot of money.- Bernama
