Tengku Arman and his wife Azizah have big plans in batik - The Star

KUALA TERENGGANU: Jun 12, 2008 By TUAN AZAM JOHAN



Being deaf was no obstacle for 36-year-old Tengku Arman Harris Tengku Ismail to succeed as an entrepreneur.

He is among Terengganu’s rare breed of disabled (OKU) entrepreneurs in the batik industry.

Looking back at his experiences, Tengku Arman, the eldest of six siblings, said he ventured into the batik industry 10 years ago.

He started work as a welder at a workshop in Kuala Lumpur in 1990, after completing his education at Sekolah Menengah Pendidikan Khas in Pulau Pinang and Sekolah Menengah Vokasional in Shah Alam, Selangor.

After a year in Kuala Lumpur, he returned home due to his father’s demise in a road crash.

Tengku Arman, who communicated via sign language through his 59-year-old mother Wan Zaitun Wan Mansur, said he started work at the Romi Batik production facility in Chendering here in 1991, and later at a batik house in Batu Burok for several years before setting up his own enterprise.

He learnt batik-making until 1996 before setting up the Arman Batik business at his house in Kampung Tebauk here.

Initially, he operated from a hut near his family home and produced batik on a small scale.

Later, the Social Welfare Department provided him a grant of RM2,000 to expand his business.

Realising he was on his way to success, Tengku Arman applied for RM20,000 loan from Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and the returns from his venture allowed him make full repayment within a short period.

“I was happy when Tengku Arman settled his loan quickly, and this gave Mara the confidence to assist people like him,” said Wan Zaitun.

Tengku Arman is assisted by his wife Azizah Md Yassin, 32, who also suffers from impaired hearing.

They have three workers who draw designs on fabric with the canting.

Tengku Arman has two silk batik shops named Anas Butik in Subang Jaya managed by his siblings.

His silk batik is priced from RM200 to RM400 a piece.

“During festive seasons, I run a kiosk at Subang Parade,” he said.

Tengku Arman and his wife commute to Kuala Lumpur regularly to deliver their merchandise.

They have plans to set up a boutique in Kuala Lumpur.

Tengku Arman’s determination earned him recognition as he bacame the first president of the Terengganu Welfare Association for People with Hearing Disability (PKOCPT).

PKOCPT was named the state’s best association for the handicapped in 2003.

Tengku Arman was also named the 2007 OKU Personality (Business) and the OKU Personality (Overall) for 2005. – Bernama