24/06/2025

TUESDAY | JUNE 24, 2025

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Malaysian Paper

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Low-cost units turned luxury homes

KUALA LUMPUR: From outside, Muhammad Izzat Che Baharu’s low-cost apartment in Pandan Indah here looks worn and weathered, which is unsurprising, considering the building it is located in was built over 35 years ago. However, stepping through the door of his 640-square-foot unit on the second floor would make one think they were entering a luxury condominium. Through clever space utilisation o Families use smart space utilisation, decor, installations to create visually striking areas

lasting impact and offer a rewarding income,” he said. Professional ice sculptor Muhammad Farhan Abd Rahim said proactive steps must be taken to preserve the art of ice carving and elevate its status to be on par with wood and metal carving. With six years of experience working at a leading hotel in Kuala Lumpur, the 28-year-old sculptor said wider exposure through competitions could help inspire more people, especially culinary students, to pursue ice sculpting professionally. “This is not an easy field. It requires a lot of patience, working in freezing conditions and sometimes the carvings do not go as planned. “However, I believe there are many who are interested but simply do not know where to begin or how to learn. Events such as the Malacca Culinary Challenge could give them the exposure they need by showing how drawing skills can be applied to create unique carvings from ice blocks,” he said. – Bernama “The house originally had a cement floor and very basic wiring, so everything had to be done from scratch, from installing stone polymer composite flooring to doing the wiring, placing the furniture and fixing kitchen cabinets. It took about three years to fully furnish the place. “All the effort and the RM20,000 spent felt worthwhile when guests praised my home and were amazed by the transformation. In fact, my home inspired some of my neighbours to decorate their own homes like mine,” she said. The mother of three believes that a house is not just a shelter “but a place to unwind after a long day of work”. She said she did not let the challenges of juggling a family and a career stop her from turning a vacant space into a beautiful and comfortable haven for her family.

Malaysia lacks structured platforms for ice sculptors, unlike Japan, South Korea and the United States, where formal training and competitions are in place, despite the presence of promising talent among culinary technical and vocational education and training (TVET) students. He added that the high cost of equipment and materials has made it difficult for educational institutions to offer ice sculpting courses, limiting opportunities for young people and new players in the field. “Due to these constraints, Bukit Beruang Community College started offering short-term certificate-level training in ice carving to give young people a chance to learn and improve their skills. “We are promoting it as it is part of the TVET stream. It could help students realise that this art form, although short-lived, could have a hauling heavy furniture up to the second floor using the staircase and having to adapt the design to suit the house layout and lighting, they managed to create a space that is comfortable and visually appealing. “However, I had to give up on the idea of having live plants in the house as the conditions simply were not suitable. “Initially, I tried placing a small plant in the laundry area but I could not water it freely for fear of the water leaking onto the unit below,” he said, adding that having a beautiful home boosts his self-esteem, even if it is a low-cost apartment. Another flat dweller who transformed her low-cost unit into a “luxury-style” home is Nur Syafiqah Ahmad Suhaimi, 30, who lives at Rimbun Apartment in Balik Pulau, Penang, Bernama reported.

However, industry players are increasingly concerned that without young talent and formal training to sustain the craft, this visually captivating art form may gradually fade, despite strong demand from the hospitality sector. Bukit Beruang Community College culinary lecturer Mohd Farid Yusoff said professional ice sculptors have become highly sought after by hotels, caterers and event planners seeking unique table centrepieces. “There are fewer than 10 professional ice sculptors in Malaysia and we are making efforts to increase that number to preserve this ice carving legacy. “This legacy must be preserved, especially as veteran chefs, such as Jeffrey Tan, Chef John and Mohamad Shahrir Haron, who represented Malaysia at global events, including in had envisioned. “So, when I moved in, I decorated everything from scratch. I bought and chose all the paint colours, furniture and curtains,” he said. Muhammad Izzat, who has a diploma in computer programming, said to realise his dream design, he used a software on his phone to plan the layout of his home. “I sketched and planned everything beforehand. I got most of my ideas from social media platforms, such as Pinterest and TikTok, as well as (furniture retailer) Ikea,” he said. “My wife and I renovated according to our budget and the space available. Most of the furniture was bought online and some from local furniture shops,” said the father of one. Despite challenges, such as

and decor in soft tones, Koperasi Permodalan Felda photographer Muhammad Izzat, 34, and his wife Nur Amirah Shari, 35, have transformed the modest unit into a visually striking minimalist home. Muhammad Izzat said the apartment, originally bought by his father in 1990, was previously rented out until he decided to move in after getting married in 2022. “Even before getting married, I had always dreamed of decorating my home with a minimalist theme. So, when the time came to move in, I was excited to bring that vision to life. “Originally, the walls were just cement blocks, but my father did some basic renovations, which cost about RM31,000, plastering the walls and repainting them.” He said the walls were painted in pink and blue, which was not what he

Call to preserve legacy of ice sculpting ALOR GAJAH: Often the highlight of official events, luxurious weddings and product launches, ice sculptures add a touch of elegance and artistry to any occasion. Sapporo, Japan, are no longer active,” he said at the Malacca Cuisine Challenge at the Freeport A’Famosa Outlet here on Saturday.

Muhammad Farhan said wider exposure through competitions could inspire more people to pursue ice sculpting professionally. – BERNAMAPIC