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WHEN a video of 12-year-old Haziq reporting a python incident at a morning market made the rounds, the team actually watched en masse in the newsroom. He was funny, resourceful and talented.
"I think we have to meet Haziq," said the writer.
Three days later the writer was accompanied by Sadiq Asyraf (photographer), Sara Mack Lubis (make-up artist) and Zaym Zarif (stylist) driving 301k to Bukit Selambau, Kedah to track this talented boy named Muhammad Haziq Mohd Asyraf.
Bukit Selambau's river and solitude
Our arrival was warmly welcomed by his father, Mohd Asyraf Ahmad, who preferred to be addressed as Abang Atan.
"Come in," he invited. His wife, Shakilla Zainol, emerged from the kitchen while Haziq shyly watched us from a corner of the house.
We informed them of our intention to interview Haziq.
Abang Atan, Shakilla and Haziq quickly nodded in agreement. Since it was raining quite heavily that day, we decided to come the next day.
So began our TARA shoot with the young Bukit Selambau journalist named Haziq.
We let the elder son of two siblings take us on patrols in his hometown accompanied by Abang Atan. Little by little his friendliness began to show.
In the car, he rolled down the windows and cheerfully greeted anyone he found on the side of the road. Maybe the people in this village are not many, so they are very friendly and know each other.
We passed a cow and goat barn before the Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Selambau student took us to his favourite area in the village – a river where he and his family go for a picnic every week.
He also took us to spy on the fishing location with his friends.
“It can be said that almost every week we will come here on a motorbike with a harness. We would have a picnic and bath in the river. Sometimes I go fishing with friends,” said Haziq as we stood looking at the river. There are storks drinking there.
“Can we take a bath in the river now?" Haziq asked suddenly.
"Let's take a quick picture, then bathe in the river, OK?" the writer suggested. He nodded quickly. The challenge of photographing children is that the success of the process is dependent on their mood.
If they don’t want to do something, we don’t want to force it. Sadiq aimed as fast as he could as the sun was already rising.
Haziq cannot stay in the heat because he has thalassemia. He gets tired quickly but wants to stay active and cheerful.
Unexpectedly viral
Haziq hurried down and plunged into the river leaving the writer behind after the photography session was over. We squatted on the bank. The interview session was conducted by the writer while accompanying Haziq to bathe and walk along the river bank.
“I like to see the abang Bomba and the Civil Defense Force (APM) in action. If I don't become a chef, I would want to be like them. I used to go with my father to buy fabric to make clothes like them (APM).
"That's why when there is a snake near the market that day, I am eager to make a live broadcast. First, I told my dad that there was a snake in the drain. Abah thought it was a little snake. We didn’t expect the snake to be that size.
“I want to call the fire brigade or APM many times but there is no purpose. When I saw snakes, I could finally call them. My aunt accompanied me, she was afraid they (APM and Bomba) wouldn’t believe me,” said Haziq, who loves mathematics at school.
Not expecting the video to go viral, Haziq admitted his life changed instantly.
“Many wanted to take pictures. Some people used to give me RM20, RM10 and sometimes RM5. They would shout, ‘Eh adik viral! Come here and take a picture’. If you don't believe, ask abah," he said again. His father smiled next to him.
According to Abang Atan, since Haziq became viral, their family have have also gotten busier. Every day there would be one programme for Haziq.
Recently, the Sultan of Kedah, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah also agreed to present Haziq with a mobile phone and tablet.
“Alhamdulillah, for the sustenance of the children. But if there is an invitation or offer, I will ask Haziq first whether he wants to do it or not. If he doesn't want to, we won't. But so far he is OK,” said abang Atan.
So far, Haziq has received invitations from various parties such as the media, government bodies or private agencies.
Not only that, according to his mother, Haziq has accepted an offer to become an actor and star in a cooking programme on a local television station.
But considering the distance and Haziq's school schedule, the offer had to be rejected.
Selling doughnuts, waffles
"Tomorrow we want to go buy a new mixer. I want to sell doughnuts and waffles again. When we get home I’ll make us some waffles.”
Haziq quickly got up from the river and tiptoed to the cliff. He is satisfied with swimming.
Once at home, he immediately rushed into the kitchen and arranged the ingredients to mix the waffles.
“In the past, I saw the nanny kneading flour for curry paste. Since that day I have been interested in all things flour. I sometimes make doughnuts, waffles, curries, and cakes to be sold to the villagers.
“I put it in my basket and ride my bike. Sometimes I will even reach the school there,” he joked as his hands lightly mixed the baking flour in the mould.
"Is that right?” the writer asked his mother.
“That’s right. Sometimes after school, he will start making waffles. There are all kinds of flavours, such as kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, chocolate and Nutella. If he's up to it, he’ll make doughnuts. Haziq sells them at RM2 for five doughnuts. RM3 for one waffle.
“Sometimes if I'm busy at the market, he will cook later in the afternoon. In short, every day Haziq will cook at home. If we don't cook main dishes, we make cakes,” said his mother.
Shakilla tries not to restrict her children. Looking at Haziq’s deep interest in cooking, she tries her best to prepare utensils and cooking ingredients at home such as breadmakers, ovens, waffle machines, mixers and others.
The beeps of the waffle machine indicate that it is cooked. Haziq wiped the chocolate and served the waffles to us.
If you think about it, what drives a child in the interior of Kedah to be very confident, fluent and knowledgeable at such a young age?
The answer is in Bukit Selambau. The town forced Haziq to grow up quickly, getting up early to help his mother at the morning market.
In the crowd, he learned to converse, chat and carefully read the room. Haziq is lucky to be raised with love and has parents who encouraged his ambitions.
They listened, understood, supported everything possible for Haziq to chase his dreams. – The Vibes, February 5, 2022
* This article first appeared in The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister publication Getaran.
