Satisfying job: Kamaruzaman hard at work in his shop in Tanah Merah, Kelantan, mending shoes. — Bernama
TANAH MERAH: The modest skill of mending shoes on the five-foot way was indeed a stitch in time for retired army officer Kamaruzaman Mat Zin, who has made it his main source of income.
Kamaruzaman, 50, said he acquired the skill while serving in the army in Perak, where initially he was just “hanging out” at the shoe-mending shop of an acquaintance.
“When I was still serving (in the army), I was active in football, and because of that, I had many contacts among the players.
“That’s where the idea to learn the skill of sewing shoes came about, because I envisioned that this skill could be useful as a source of income one day after retirement,” he told Bernama at his shop in Tanah Merah town, Kelantan.
The father of five said exposure to seeing how to sew and mend shoes while helping out the friend, stirred a sense of interest which led him to inherit the skill.
Kamaruzaman said he wasted no time in opening a shoe-repair “booth” after retiring from the army at the age of 45.
He received encouraging response, especially considering the prevailing trend of shoe designs that were not durable and prone to wear and tear.
“I am grateful for the good fortune of being blessed with good health, still being active in football, and being able to add more contacts that gave me the opportunity to render my services to those in need.
“I never guessed mending shoes on the sidewalk could become a source of sustenance when it came to retirement and even a foothold as a source of income to support my family until now,” said Kamaruzaman, who served at Camp Batu 11 in Tanah Merah, which was his last camp of service.
Now marching to the beat of a different drum, the fee he charges for mending shoes or slippers starts from RM3 to RM80, depending on the type of footwear and method of stitching the repair requires.
“I earn more than RM100 a day, with the shop open from 10am to 6.30pm,” he said.
