At this Jertih home, Merdeka blooms from recycled bottles

In the village of Kampung Baru Tok Dor, Terengganu, Halimah Said and her husband Mat Ail Mamat have transformed discarded plastic bottles into vibrant Merdeka decorations for the National Month. The elderly couple began their project on August 1, gathering plastic bottles from a nearby oil palm plantation and repurposing them into decorative flowers.

Halimah, 65, meticulously cleans, cuts, and shapes the bottles into petals before painting and arranging them into various floral designs. This is the second year the couple has participated in the home-decoration competition, aiming to use recycled materials this time. Most materials cost very little, except for spray paints in the colors of the Jalur Gemilang, which Halimah spent around RM100 on.

The finished flowers adorn pots alongside the fence, while red-and-white bottles hang from wooden poles beneath the national flag. The couple plans to add a decorated trishaw and a replica of the Petronas Twin Towers to enhance the display, further bringing color to their compound with flags from several states. Halimah's creative outlet provides her a much-needed respite amidst her daily routine of caring for her disabled daughter, Rosnani Mat Ail, 41, who is bedridden.

Mat Ail's 78-year-old husband also joins in the decorating efforts, and their children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews contribute by preparing photographs and information about Malaysia’s former prime ministers.

The family's participation in the decorations provides a meaningful and inexpensive way to observe National Month, demonstrating that discarded materials can be revitalized into something joyful with time and imagination.