KUALA TERENGGANU: Known for his close bond with animals, 20-year-old Muhammad Syukur Khamis — affectionately known as Malaysia’s Mowgli — is now turning his attention to mechanical “beasts”: high-powered motorcycles.
Since graduating on Sept 3, Syukur continues his daily routine of releasing his family’s herd of buffaloes from their pen in the morning and returning them in the evening.
However, he now also has a new role: repairing high-powered motorcycles.
“I manage my brother Muhammad Alias’s motorcycle workshop in Kampung Banggol Katong.
“Usually, I do the maintenance and repair work at night, between 8pm and midnight,” he said.
“That time is ideal because my brother is around to guide me and help me improve my skills in this field.”
Syukur completed a motorcycle technology course at GiatMara in June last year.
He said the knowledge he gained during the six-month programme has helped him increase his income, but has also become a career path for him.
In addition to working on high-powered motorcycles, he also services and repairs smaller motorcycles.
“I can now handle maintenance and repair for various types of motorcycles,” he said, adding that his brother continues to be an important mentor in building his skills.
“Alhamdulillah, repairing motorcycles has become part of my routine, but my passion for livestock will never fade — it’s been a hobby since I was a child.
“I just graduated, and I plan to make full use of everything I learned at GiatMara to continue developing my expertise in motorcycles.
“Now that I’ve entered the working world, there are definitely more challenges, especially in sourcing spare parts for high-powered bikes,” he explained.
He said parts are often ordered directly from Japan, Indonesia, the United States, Thailand, or from local vendors.
As for costs, he said they vary depending on the damage or maintenance needed, ranging from RM350 to as high as RM20,000.
“I take the trust given by customers very seriously to ensure their motorcycles are repaired perfectly.
“At the same time, my love for livestock remains strong, even as I take on the role of a mechanic,” he added.
He also expressed satisfaction with his new career path, as it still allows him time to care for more than 80 buffaloes, 30 goats, and three cows that he inherited from his father.
In 2019, Syukur, then 14, made headlines after appearing in picturesque shots illustrating his bond with livestock buffaloes at his father’s farm in Kampung Kubang Bujuk, here.
The viral photos were taken by photographers “Dollah Deen Photography” from Kelantan, as well as Mohd Nazri Sulaiman, who is from Terengganu but resides in Kuala Lumpur.
The uniqueness of one of the photos led to Mohd Nazri winning the Street/People Photographer of the Year award at the 2018 Asian Geographic – Image of Asia, as well as the Remarkable Award at the 2018 Siena International Photography Award in Italy.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
