By Owen Lee
Azaharul Affandi Bin Amir Hamzah was diagnosed with autism at Kuala Lumpur General Hospital. Affandi’s journey through life has never followed the conventional path. But from a young age, one thing stood out ….. his extraordinary artistic ability.
Affandi’s passion for drawing was evident during his early school years. Whether enrolled in mainstream schools or special education classes, his artwork consistently won competitions.
“His skills are very much tied to his mood,” said Wan Chik Bt Daud, mother of Affandi. “Children with autism can lose focus quickly. Their interests shift, and you can’t force them. He loved LEGO for a while but that faded too.”
However, one passion remained constant. Affandi has always loved the comic works of legendary Malaysian cartoonist, YBhg Dato’ Mohd Nor bin Khalid or fondly known as LAT. While many comics have come and gone, Kampung Boy and Anak-anak Sidek held a lasting place in his heart. After visiting LAT’s gallery and seeing the replica of the cartoonist’s kampung home, Affandi’s admiration grew even stronger.
Moved by that visit, Affandi decided to build his own version of LAT’s kampung house. It was not created for attention or prizes but came from pure admiration.
“He was so excited after that gallery visit. The idea came to him naturally,” his mother recalled.
Affandi completed the entire project in just over a month. Although the supplies he had ordered arrived later than expected, once he received them, he got straight to work. He constructed the traditional kampung house using cardboard, glue, a craft knife and acrylic paint. He did it all on his own without any help.
“He didn’t face any challenges while building it because he was so focused and completely immersed in what he was doing,” said Wan.
The result was a beautifully detailed miniature of the iconic kampung house. Each wall, stair and roof tile reflected both Malaysia’s nostalgic past and Affandi’s personal achievement. His patience and commitment could be seen in every corner of the finished piece.
What came next was even more special.
Wan secretly arranged for her son to meet the man who had inspired him for years. She also planned to let Affandi present his completed replica as a gift.
“The meeting was something I had planned for some time,” she said. “But I kept it a secret. It was my gift to both of them. I wanted Dato LAT to receive this tribute and I wanted Affandi to experience that moment of recognition.”
On the day of the meeting, Dato LAT was deeply touched. He praised Affandi’s attention to detail and expressed genuine pride in the young artist’s work. For Affandi, meeting his idol and presenting the house was a dream come true.
“He was so happy. It was one of the greatest achievements of his life,” said Wan.
Although Affandi has built other model houses before, they were simply hobbies. This kampung house was something else entirely. It came from a deeper place. It was a gesture of love, respect and inspiration.
Wan believes that Affandi’s experience holds a lesson for all parents who are raising children with autism.
“We must learn to value every piece of their art no matter how small. Their way of thinking may be different from ours but with love and patience they can find their place in society. Sometimes their creativity goes far beyond what we expect.”
Affandi’s story is a reminder that creativity and passion do not always follow the usual rules. When supported and understood, they can grow into something truly meaningful.
Affandi’s replica Kampung Boy House will soon be exhibited. But if you are curious to see the original Kampung Boy house that sparked this journey, you can visit the Galeri Rumah Lat in Batu Gajah, Perak. For the ticket price, you may refer to the picture at the bottom.
Galeri Rumah Lat is open to visitors daily from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, except on Fridays when it operates in two sessions – from 10:00 AM to 12:15 PM and 2:45 PM to 4:30 PM.. For enquiries, call 013-411 4094.
