GEORGE TOWN: It is hard to believe that Omar Juree, a person with disabilities (OKU), is such an accomplished woodcarver who creates models of the icons of Penang.
Omar, 65, despite having his left foot and index finger on the right hand amputated due to diabetes and infection, has the passion to go on making wooden cravings of the famous ferry and Bukit Bendera train for sale.
He said he lost his left foot when he was 40 years old, but that did not dampen his spirit and passion to keep on carving until today.
"My finger had to be amputated due to bacterial infection while doing carving work. My passion to produce handicrafts started during school days, but I seriously ventured into this when I was 27," he told Bernama at his home in Kampung Air Itam recently.
"Previously, when I was residing in Taman Selat, Butterworth, and I would commute via ferry daily to work on the island as a hotel supervisor. While on the ferry, I have always admired the various ferries of Penang," he added.
After moving to Penang island, Omar said he started building a ferry replica using manila cards, but the artwork was not durable due to the soft material.
"Then I tried with cardboard and plywood, and the result was better, and the model was strong. I also painted the ferry according to the actual colours for the feel of a real ferry, "said Omar.
Assisted by his 63-year-old wife, Siti Fatimah Abu Bakar, he added the intricate art using plywood and wood for the models can take up to two weeks to complete, starting with the process of cutting wood, carving, painting before placing it into a glass box.
He said he produced the iconic Penang ferry in three sizes, namely 30 centimetres (cm), 76 cm and the largest ever produced, 122 cm.
"The main challenge to carving a ferry was to punch the ferry windows. The process will take time, and it will test my patience as each final product must look neat.
Besides the ferry, Omar also craved Bukit Bendera trains using the same materials and received orders from the Penang Hill Corporation to place the iconic artwork at a museum in Bukit Bendera.
He said he also presented his replicas to former Penang football team coach, Irfan Bakti Abu Salim, and imported Moroccan player, Merzagua Abderrazak.
"I also receive orders from individuals, corporate companies, and factories as souvenirs for friends locally and abroad," he said.
Omar, has produced more than 500 pieces of the ferry and Bukit Bendera train replicas, and the cost of an artwork carving is between RM250 and RM800.
-- BERNAMA