Decorative ketupat cases for wholesale

AS Hari Raya approaches, Syaiful Miqdad once again become the unofficial ketupat weaver of Tomei, a wholesaler for artificial flowers, ribbons and decorative trimmings.

To date, the 41-year-old who has been working for this shop for seven years, has made no less than 600 ketupat cases from multi-coloured polypropylene ribbons to cater to consumer demand.

Syaiful: ‘Weaving a ketupat case is not a hard thing to master’

“Most customers buy them to decorate their homes and offices to give the place a Hari Raya feel,” said Syaiful.

Syaiful said that the ketupat cases have come to be a popular Hari Raya decoration, just like the Chinese mandarin is to Chinese New Year or the kolam is to Deepavali. He states his reasons.

“Weaving a ketupat case is not a hard thing to master. By observation alone, it would take an individual no more than two weeks to become an expert,” affirmed Syaiful who can weave a ketupat case in under a minute.

The second reason would be due to the availability of materials. In the olden days, ‘daun palas’ was used and this was easily found. In modern times, where ketupat cases are made of synthetic materials, it made things even easier for those who look for decorative trimmings.

And dwelling on the symbolic meaning behind this simple rice cake case, Syaiful said that the ketupat serves as a reminder that beauty can also be found in simplicity.

“Just look at the ketupat. It is but a simple wrapped up rice cake within a criss-cross of leaves, yet it is portable, long-lasting and sought by many. Symbolically, the weave also reminds one that there is strength in unity,” Syaiful said.

Here’s how you do it: Syaiful Miqdad of Tomei weaving a ketupat case into shape.

Syaiful recalled that the ketupat case had gained popularity as a decorative element for Hari Raya sometime around the middle of 1995.

“There are a few major elements to symbolise Hari Raya like the pelita and lemang but using such decorative themes often required cumbersome electrical arrangements. Then, someone must have realised that it would be the ketupat case which would be the easiest to make and showcase.

“So that must be when the shopping malls and complexes started incorporating the ketupat case into their Raya decorations,” said Syaiful.

Of course, when any handicraft work is concerned, colours play an important role as well.

Ready for the picking: Liza, Syaiful’s assistant on her way to hanging up the ketupat cases for display.

“The most common choice would fall on the green and yellow to remind one of the genuine ‘daun palas’ ketupat.

“But when it strikes my fancy, I’d use combinations like purple and yellow, pink and blue or green and red, just so that I’d have something striking,” said Syaiful.

So, does Syaiful see the ketupat losing its place as the Hari Raya icon as anytime soon?

“No, as long as there are people like me to ensure the preservation of its heritage,” was his firm reply.

The decorative ketupat at Tomei are priced at RM2.50 each for a big one and RM0.60 for the smaller version.

For a live demo, Tomei is at 2005, Malayan Mansion, Jalan Masjid India, 50100, KL. Tel: 03-26938880.

Ramadan bazaar traders show off their ingenuity

BIG departmental stores may have teams of professional window dressers but, as far as the pasar Ramadan traders in Jalan Masjid India and Lorong Tuaku Abdul Rahman are concerned, a little bit of ingenuity can go a long way when it comes to getting attention.

At Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman behind Noble Hotel, for example, Wan Mohd Ridzuan Harun, 21, drew inspiration from his boss’ penchant for fast cars by hinting that his baju Melayu were reminiscent of Lamborghini yellows, Porsche browns and Ferrari reds.

Head turner: Zamri with his ‘songkok KLCC’

“The idea of associating baju Melayu with sports cars came about when we were looking for a way to entice customers to stop and take a look at our collection.

“Since most of the buyers were men, we thought it would be a good idea to tie the product with something that they were familiar with. Of course, we were also doing it in the name of fun, something to make the customer smile while browsing the bazaar,” Ridzuan said.

Incidentally, Ridzuan revealed that his boss does indeed own a Porsche which was used when they travelled from Kelantan to participate in the bazaar.

A few stalls away, the Tudung Senget headscarves stall is also getting its fair share of attention with attractive salesgirls giving live demonstrations on how to wear and tie the products.

“Actions always speak louder than words when it comes to promoting her two-second-headscarves,” said Fitriza Nurain Faishal, 22, .

In a jiffy: The pretty end result of Fitriza’s demonstration

“All the wearer needs to do is to slip it on and tuck the ends into the sides. There is no need for pins and such,” Fitriza said. .

And the only way to convince them, added Fitriza who has been selling the scarves for seven years, was to show them how easy it was to do it.

Also banking on the visibility factor is Mohd Zamri Abd Karim, 36, a songkok stall owner just next to Fitriza’s stall. The father of three has been turning heads with his tall songkok, a wearable prop which he proudly wears to get the necessary stares.

So far, Zamri’s eye-catching tactic has earned him the nickname Songkok KLCC because of the extra height gained with his specially-made head gear.

Louder than words: Fitriza (right) demonstrating to a customer the way to put on her two-second tudung.

Meanwhile, another songkok vendor who shares the same attention-seeking idea is 22-year-old Afliza Warneli Zaswar who has a size 48 songkok and a giant capal (sandal) hanging at her stall front at Jalan Masjid India.

“We see cars slowing down and people winding down their windows to point at our giant sandal and songkok,” Afliza laughed.

According to Afliza, whose family has been in the songkok business for 50 years, the giant capal was brought in from Indonesia while the songkok was locally made by a craftsman in Gombak.

“Sometimes, I like to pull my customers’ leg by telling them that we had made the capal and the songkok for a customer who has yet to collect his order. You should see their mouths hanging open in disbelief then,” she said with a giggle.

Beautiful baubles

If there was ever a contest for the King of Bling in Jalan Masjid India, Abdul Rahim Ismail would win the crown hands down.

As the owner of CK Rahim, a chain of nine shops which specialises in kebaya brooches, buttons for baju Melayu and a collection of ladies’ accessories, Rahim, 49 would have an inexhaustible supply of resources to outshine everyone.

To prove it, Rahim quickly adorned himself for this shoot by ringing all ten of his fingers and aggrandising a plain baju melayu top with the flashiest and largest pastiches he could find in his shop.

Classic: A kebaya kerongsang.

There were plenty of titters especially from his wife, Aripah Yahaya, 49, who holds a 49% stake in the business and some of his female customers could not help commenting that `a groom had just arrived’ and that he must have `quite a number of marriage engagements’ owing to the many rings he wore.

Unperturbed, Rahim insisted that a merchant of precious stones, albeit his are all faux jewels, should dress as such.

“Some people ask why wear accessories but look at the effect! When I was in a plain shirt earlier, no one took notice of me.

“Now that I am all decked out in my shiny brooches, look at the attention I am getting,” pointed out Rahim playfully.

The CK Rahim brand may not be a familiar one to mall shoppers but those who frequent the Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, area for its myriad variety of ethnic knick knacks will know it at once.

“Many people have asked what CK stands for in the CK Rahim chain of accessory shops. For one, it’s actually a short form for’cikgu’ which was my former profession.

“On the other hand, you can take it as an acronym for ‘Cepat Kaya’ (get rich quick),” said Rahim in jest.

It is hard not to like this sporting former school teacher but light banter aside, Rahim proved that he does have his serious moments.

From his account, Rahim, who hails from Kampung Air Suda in Grik, Perak, recalled how he had started life as a teacher before becoming a businessman.

“Having come from a small ‘kampung’, I have always viewed the teaching profession as a noble and honourable calling.

The queen and princess of bling: Aripah, Rahim’s wife decking their daughter, Irra, with all things nice and shiny.

“The title of ‘cikgu’ to me was higher than any other accolade because it meant that one had to shoulder the responsibility of imparting knowledge to the young,” said Rahim.

His last posting was in SMK Taman Maluri in 2001 where he taught Geography and other arts subjects for nine years before a brief transfer to SM Mirharja.

So what made this dedicated teacher quit?

Hesitantly, he would cite reasons of demotivation as the main cause. And so, rather than run the risk of passing his disinterest to his students, he decided that the best recourse was to quit.

“You know, when I started at the morning market, my stall was only about the size of this office table. I thought that selling ladies’ accessories would be ideal because I couldn’t bake or cook,” said Rahim giving his little laugh.

Seven years and nine shops later, Rahim is able to look back at those days and laugh at how he transported his wares to his small stall in his old Proton.

Today, he gets his goods directly from the factory thanks to a partnership he struck with a Taiwanese businessman while he was still operating from the morning markets.

And gone are the days when he has to persuade his customers into giving him a sale. Rahim leaves that to his sales assistants as he shifts priorities to minding stock levels in his stores which he does so with the help of a CCTV system. His sales pitching days for now are only reserved for the big buyers with no less than RM 300,000 to spare. However, there are still traces of the ‘cikgu’ in this self made entrepreneur.

“People ask me how I gathered the guts to open up nine shops and to entrust the collection of cash to my staff.

King of bling: CK Rahim’s name twinkles bright in the Masjid India area.

“For me, I treat my staff like my students. I believe that if I give them the trust, they will carry out their responsibilities,” said Rahim.

But amidst the twinkle of CK Rahim’s glamourous baubles, it would be Nur Irra Syahiddah, 14, Rahim’s only child who would win the honour of being the brightest stone in her father’s eyes.

True, Rahim and his wife had to leave her alone with the maid during the struggling years but today, they are able to shower her with the best.

“She has gone to Japan and Australia for student exchange programmes and to have anything her heart desires as long as she continues to prove that she has been a good student,” said Rahim.

He also added that he would be doing her great injustice by just giving in to her wishes without demanding any effort from her part.

“If you are just in the position to receive, you are like a dead person. This will not be good for your self esteem which needs the constant reassurance of achievement,” said Rahim.

In finality, while some of the faux jewellery in CK Rahim’s shop may lose its glimmer after some time, it looks like these words from The King of Bling to his empire’s future heir will continue to glow in her mind for a long while to come.

CK Rahim is located at 92, Jalan Masjid India and 157, Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman, 50100, KL. Tel: 019-3478 659 and 019-353 4516.