HAMID TUKANG KAYU - Key Persons

Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid bin Ahmad was born in 1932 in Parit Hj Mohammad Bagan, Rengit a small town located within the district of Batu Pahat in the state of Johor. He has indulged himself in the art of carpentry since his early school days or more precisely, since he was at the tender age of eight. His talents in carpentry were initially devoted into helping his late grandfather Allahyarham Hj Taib make doors, wooden planks for stairs, as well as repairation of houses.Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid received his first education in Sekolah Merlong Rengit in 1941. However, his education lasted for only two years until he was at the age of eleven in 1943, during which began the brutal Japanese occupation of Malaysia (then known as ‘Tanah Melayu'). Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid had also seek advice and counsel from RIDA (MARA) while he was still new in the furniture business. The MARA Officer at that time, Mr. Syed Rahman, and a European engineer of RIDA has paid a visit to his furniture workshop in Rengit. Following this visit, RIDA later sent Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid for a two-week course on carpentry in Deithelm (a renowned furniture factory in Singapore). RIDA also approved his loan of RM 1,200, which was contributed towards the purchase of machines appropriate for producing furniture. The machines purchased were planer (mesin ketam), saw and drill. These machines had to be bought in Singapore, as they were unavailable anywhere near Rengit at that time. Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid also attended several courses and seminars on carpentry organized by RIDA in Kuala Lumpur. Even though his customer base in Rengit was strong, steady and still expanding, due to the total absence of electricity and his determined will to take his business to a more commendable level and transform it into an empire, in the year 1970, Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid decided to move his business as well as his family to the town of Batu Pahat where there was a bigger possibility of achieving his ambitious goals for his business. The land on which he built his furniture factory which still stands to this day, in the very same location as when it was first built, was rented at the price of RM 70 per month. After ten years of renting this land, however, the landlord eventually agreed to sell this land off to Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid. Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid had been active in attracting Malay youth to indulge themselves in the art of carpentry. As an employer, Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid did not only employ for the sake of keeping the factory and therefore the business running, but also to teach and train his employees how to make furniture. He has introduced the concept of ‘simultaneous learning and working.' Some of his trainers include Mr. Khamis of Khamis Perabot, Mr. Munajat of Syarikat Ikatan Muhibah, and Mr. Hassan of Perusahaan Tukang Kayu A. Hamid. Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid's business was not restricted to the production and selling of furniture only. Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid has also bought several pieces of land on which he built houses for the purpose of selling it. He also produced water tanks with the measurement of 5' x 4'. At the current moment, Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid is also aggressive into the palm oil plantation business. In addition to this, he is also focusing on land and property management; much of the land, shop lots, and houses in Johor and Klang Valley he owns are available for rent. Allahyarham Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid was married to Allahyarhamah Hajah Zabeadah binti Rasiman, and blessed with eight children and 38 grandchildren, all of whom are proud of the endeavors that he has taken to establish himself as a determined and successful individual, and to carry his glorious lineage. On 19 July 2014, Allahyarham Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid died at The Southern Hospital, surrounded by his family and wаs buried аt Taman Banang Cemetery in Batu Pahat, Johor.