ID :
26317
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 16:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/26317
The shortlink copeid
THE MAGIC OF MALAYSIA'S RAJA WOOD
BY SHAHRULLIZAN RUSLI
PORT DICKSON (Malaysia), Oct 24 (Bernama) -- The Raja Wood (Koompassia
excelsa) that can be sourced from the jungles of the deep interior of Malaysia has many unique and peculiar features.
A finger ring maker who is also an expert on the wood, Badrulhisham
Abdullah, 43, noted that the Raja Kayu is used in making rings and amulets.
It is said to have has some miraculous properties that can be proven "in
situ" right in front of the eyes of the buyers of the wood or the ring made from
the wood.
When met by Bernama during a recent exposition here Badrulhisham said it
was sad to note that the locals did not bother to look into the unique
properties of the wood and instead took delight of the woods from foreign lands
like the Kokka from Arab lands.
"Whether they are great are not the wood is from our jungle, look at the
Orang Asli who hardly fall sick though they live in the jungle. The wood and
roots from the jungle that gives them the miraculous power and serves as the
medicine for them," he said.
WOOD WHERE THE LIGHT PENETRATES
It was awesome when the light from the flashlight penetrated thick pieces
of the Raja Kayu whereas the same test on other woods including the Kokka failed
to reproduce the results.
Another awesome feature of the Raja Kayu is that when a very light piece of
the wood in the shape and size of a one sen coin was placed on the water
surface, remarkably it sank like a stone.
The powder of the Raja Kayu was rubbed on the arm, strangely it was
absorbed into the skin and this doesn't happen from the powders of other
trees.
On where he sources the wood, Badrulhisham replied the Raja Kayu was
supplied to him by the Orang Asli community in Batu 12, Gombak, and at times he
ventures into the jungles to find them.
POPULAR AMONG TOURISTS
A Chinese ring maker who has been helping the Koperasi Asli Selangor Berhad
in Gombak to market the rings noted that the bras ring studded with the wood is
highly popular among tourists.
Even visitors to Badrulhisham's booth were all awed and could only utter
"Oh my God, Oh my God", after seeing the demonstration of the wood's peculiar
features.
Badrulhisham said he learned to make the rings from the wood following a
dream that he had after being ill for seven years and he doesn't encourage any
Muslims to believe in the heresy related to the rings and amulets made from the
wood.
"As for me finger ring regardless made from wood or stone is no more than
an accessory. If there is anyone who believes that the person wearing it would
be protected from black magic, it is just a believe and even if it does it is
all due to the mercy of Allah," he said.
He would decline any orders to make rings with heretic or nonsensical
elements even if offered high prices.
RINGS OF WOOD INCREASINGLY POPULAR
Each of the Raja Kayu rings sold helps Badrulhisham earn between RM80 and
RM350 and on average he can earn between RM3,000 and RM10,000 monthly.
Interestingly it only takes him half an hour to finish a ring.
He said price of the ring is based on how rare the material is, the
manufacturing techniques and the artwork and the uniqueness involved in making
the ring.
Badrulhisham noted that the rings studded with this wood is increasingly
popular akin to the ones studded with precious stones.
He is now planning to popularise the resources of the Malaysian jungles
especially the woods and the uniqueness of the Orang Asli carvings.
INTERNATIONAL AWARD
He pointed out to the intricate wood carving "Harimau Berantai" (chained
tiger) that even mesmerized the Western World saying it goes to show the ability
of the Orang Asli who carved the masterpiece.
It is such detailed and fine work using only one piece of wood - a tiger
with a wooden ball in its mouth and its limbs chained.
"The Harimau Berantai is not a cut and glue piece. It won an international
award at the World Craft Competition, in Bangkok, eight years ago," he
said.
The carving was sold for RM5,000 and Badrulhisham anticipates that the
price would rise to RM25,000 in a few more years as the man who carved it is too
old and there is no one to inherit his ability.
The carving can be viewed at the Koperasi Asli Selangor Berhad
website.
-- BERNAMA
PORT DICKSON (Malaysia), Oct 24 (Bernama) -- The Raja Wood (Koompassia
excelsa) that can be sourced from the jungles of the deep interior of Malaysia has many unique and peculiar features.
A finger ring maker who is also an expert on the wood, Badrulhisham
Abdullah, 43, noted that the Raja Kayu is used in making rings and amulets.
It is said to have has some miraculous properties that can be proven "in
situ" right in front of the eyes of the buyers of the wood or the ring made from
the wood.
When met by Bernama during a recent exposition here Badrulhisham said it
was sad to note that the locals did not bother to look into the unique
properties of the wood and instead took delight of the woods from foreign lands
like the Kokka from Arab lands.
"Whether they are great are not the wood is from our jungle, look at the
Orang Asli who hardly fall sick though they live in the jungle. The wood and
roots from the jungle that gives them the miraculous power and serves as the
medicine for them," he said.
WOOD WHERE THE LIGHT PENETRATES
It was awesome when the light from the flashlight penetrated thick pieces
of the Raja Kayu whereas the same test on other woods including the Kokka failed
to reproduce the results.
Another awesome feature of the Raja Kayu is that when a very light piece of
the wood in the shape and size of a one sen coin was placed on the water
surface, remarkably it sank like a stone.
The powder of the Raja Kayu was rubbed on the arm, strangely it was
absorbed into the skin and this doesn't happen from the powders of other
trees.
On where he sources the wood, Badrulhisham replied the Raja Kayu was
supplied to him by the Orang Asli community in Batu 12, Gombak, and at times he
ventures into the jungles to find them.
POPULAR AMONG TOURISTS
A Chinese ring maker who has been helping the Koperasi Asli Selangor Berhad
in Gombak to market the rings noted that the bras ring studded with the wood is
highly popular among tourists.
Even visitors to Badrulhisham's booth were all awed and could only utter
"Oh my God, Oh my God", after seeing the demonstration of the wood's peculiar
features.
Badrulhisham said he learned to make the rings from the wood following a
dream that he had after being ill for seven years and he doesn't encourage any
Muslims to believe in the heresy related to the rings and amulets made from the
wood.
"As for me finger ring regardless made from wood or stone is no more than
an accessory. If there is anyone who believes that the person wearing it would
be protected from black magic, it is just a believe and even if it does it is
all due to the mercy of Allah," he said.
He would decline any orders to make rings with heretic or nonsensical
elements even if offered high prices.
RINGS OF WOOD INCREASINGLY POPULAR
Each of the Raja Kayu rings sold helps Badrulhisham earn between RM80 and
RM350 and on average he can earn between RM3,000 and RM10,000 monthly.
Interestingly it only takes him half an hour to finish a ring.
He said price of the ring is based on how rare the material is, the
manufacturing techniques and the artwork and the uniqueness involved in making
the ring.
Badrulhisham noted that the rings studded with this wood is increasingly
popular akin to the ones studded with precious stones.
He is now planning to popularise the resources of the Malaysian jungles
especially the woods and the uniqueness of the Orang Asli carvings.
INTERNATIONAL AWARD
He pointed out to the intricate wood carving "Harimau Berantai" (chained
tiger) that even mesmerized the Western World saying it goes to show the ability
of the Orang Asli who carved the masterpiece.
It is such detailed and fine work using only one piece of wood - a tiger
with a wooden ball in its mouth and its limbs chained.
"The Harimau Berantai is not a cut and glue piece. It won an international
award at the World Craft Competition, in Bangkok, eight years ago," he
said.
The carving was sold for RM5,000 and Badrulhisham anticipates that the
price would rise to RM25,000 in a few more years as the man who carved it is too
old and there is no one to inherit his ability.
The carving can be viewed at the Koperasi Asli Selangor Berhad
website.
-- BERNAMA
