KOTA BHARU : The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the lives of many people including Wan Irfayuim Azim Wan Ab Aziz, 31.

The avid traveller was working as a travel agent in Japan for more than three years before he was forced to give up the job upon returning to Malaysia for a vacation in March last year.

When the Movement Control Order was imposed nationwide that month to curb the spread of COVID-19, he lost his only source of income.

"I cannot do my work, I had to give up my property in Japan, including a car and a house.

"I was jobless and in desperate need of a job. That's when I started thinking of doing something related to skills to generate income, and I ended up with carpentry," he told reporters when met at his house in Kampung Jambu here today.

The solo traveller, who has been to 42 countries, said he could make various wood products including rehal (book rest), photo frames, key holders and animal cages.

Wan Irfayuim Azim said he had allocated RM20,000 to buy the tools for carpentry and his product were sold between RM15 to RM1,600.

"At first, I can only sell the products to close friends but later I constantly receiving orders that keep me busy," he said.

The holder of Food Technology diploma from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) added that his future plan was to focus on building gazeboes with the help from several workers.

BERNAMA

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