CHILDHOOD CURIOSITY IN KEMAHIRAN HIDUP PROJECTS TURNS INTO SIDE INCOME FROM BUILDING PLANS

BATU PAHAT, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- What began as a young boy’s curiosity - often ‘disturbing’ his father during Kemahiran Hidup (life skills) projects - has grown into a valuable skill, which now allows him to earn a side income by drawing building plans.

Muhammad Zamir Zikri Zulkiflee, 23, said that the early exposure he received from his father, Zulkiflee Zawawi, 62, a Kemahiran Hidup teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Mersing, sparked his deep interest in carpentry and house construction from a young age.

The third-year Bachelor of Vocational Education (Building Construction) student at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), said that, despite still studying, he has been able to earn part-time income as a building draughtsman.

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“Alhamdulillah, this year alone I have successfully completed five building plans, including for a hospital and a private residence, in addition to several others which are still in progress.

“I never expected that my passion in this field could generate an income, of about RM600 for each building plan drawn at the initial stage,” he told Bernama, when met during the 4th Johor Education Seminar (SPJ-IV) at Sultan Ibrahim Hall, UTHM, here, today.

The youngest of seven siblings said that he is determined to become a successful building plan draughtsman, after completing his studies.

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“I am deeply grateful to my father for his continuous guidance and encouragement since my school days,” he said.

Apart from Muhammad Zamir Zikri, another student from the same programme, Nur Najihah Mohamad Nazri, 28, also stood out when she successfully completed a three-dimensional (3D) bungalow model, as her study project.

She said that the project, titled ‘Draw 2 Build,’ was developed by her group, using the latest technology and specialised software in the construction process.

“I applied the knowledge I gained during my previous industrial training to complete the project,” she said.

The second of four siblings added that she was proud to be among the women venturing into construction and blueprint design.

“Since childhood, I have been exposed to engineering through many of my family members working in the field, which helped develop my deep interest in this skill,” she said.

-- BERNAMA