27/03/2026

FRIDAY | MAR 27, 2026

6 Fearless in the face of fangs

Turning glass into elegant accessories

KUALA NERUS: For most people, just catching sight of a snake is enough to send shivers down the spine. But for a female officer of the Civil Defence Force in Terengganu, facing venomous reptiles is all in a day’s work and part of her mission to keep the community safe. Over her 16-year career, 2nd Lt Farah Nadia Abdullah has handled more than 700 snake cases, including highly venomous and dangerous species such as king cobras, monocled cobras and reticulated pythons. The 38-year-old, who is with the Kuala Nerus branch, said courage and knowledge of reptile behaviour are key to keeping operations safe for both officers and the public. “I learnt from a colleague skilled in snake handling how to understand the behaviour and safely tame a snake. When I receive an emergency call about a snake, I ask if it has been hit, because it tends to be more aggressive afterward. “When I get to a scene, I first observe the snake’s position and movements to judge if it’s aggressive. The hardest to handle, in my experience, are king cobras because of their fierce nature and rapid movements,” she told Bernama. Farah Nadia said her snake-handling skills were passed down from her late grandfather, Tahir Bidin, who was once a renowned and skilled snake catcher. With her natural talent and professional training at the Civil Defence Force, she is determined to prove that women can thrive in a field long dominated by men. The same fearless spirit runs through junior officer Nurin Qurratu Ain Norrozi, who admits she has never been afraid of snakes since she was a child, a courage that now makes handling them part of her daily duty. Nurin said new recruits are always guided by experienced officers before joining real operations. “We train in stages. Before any operation, senior officers show us how to handle and control snakes while keeping ourselves and o Civil defence women officers handle hundreds of deadly reptile cases with skill and grit to keep communities safe

KUALA LUMPUR: What began as a simple hobby – creating women’s accessories just for fun for family and close friends – unexpectedly grew into a brand with its own distinct identity. Nurul Zulaika Simon’s ZS Piece label has drawn attention for its unique use of glass as an alternative to crystals, offering elegant accessories at affordable prices. “Although I use glass, I make sure the colour combinations and designs are well-balanced so each piece has its own character. Customers can also choose designs based on their personal taste,” said Nurul Zulaika, who started producing accessories under her ZS Piece brand in August last year. Drawing on nearly five years of experience as an artist, the 30-year-old channels her artistic skills into designing motifs for rings, bracelets and phone straps. She added that her involvement in craft-making also serves as a form of emotional therapy. For Nurul Zulaika, who hails from Lahad Datu, Sabah, making accessories provides her creative escape and a moment of respite from her responsibilities as a part-time lecturer at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage. “Creating accessories is therapeutic for me, and I hope those who wear them will feel more confident, even if the designs are simple. “Each piece goes through a sketching process and up to four or five design trials before it is completed. This is to ensure a balance of colours, contrast and visual elements that highlight its character.” Despite being priced affordably, from as low as RM11 to RM100 a piece depending on the materials used, her products are durable with proper care. Nurul Zulaika, who markets her products at various sales booths, said the influx of mass produced imported items has put pressure on local craft makers to remain competitive. A graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Design, she said the situation has affected the competitiveness of local handmade products as they are still produced manually, requiring more time and precision compared with large-scale manufacturing. Nurul Zulaika added that time constraints pose a challenge in expanding her business as she has to balance her roles as a part time lecturer, visual artist and accessory entrepreneur. “Still, I continue to produce accessories consistently and hope that locally made handmade products will continue to receive support.” – Bernama

Farah Nadia (right) during a training session on handling venomous snakes at the civil defence state headquarters recently. – BE R NAMA PIC

myself. Eventually, they understood and supported my choice.” Meanwhile, Civil Defence Force deputy director (Operations) Major Mohd Hafiz Asikin said 100 of the state’s 380 personnel are women, almost all trained to handle venomous animals. He said all new recruits must complete basic and venomous animal handling courses at either the state or the agency’s headquarters training centre. “New recruits are first trained in observation before being trusted to lead operations fully, based on their experience and skills.”

the public safe,” she said. Nurin joined the force after graduating from Politeknik Besut in 2022 and has since taken part in hundreds of snake capture and relocation operations, including those involving venomous and large snakes. “Some people questioned my decision to join the force, saying women like me should be in the kitchen or office. Even my parents worry every time I go out, knowing I face risks like venomous snakes. “But I was able to show them how passionate I am about this work and my desire to help as many people as possible. I also promised my parents I would always look after