{
  "id": 333379,
  "title": "This carpenter’s side hustle is really hopping",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/this-carpenters-side-hustle-is-really-hopping-333379",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-08T23:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/08/09/this-carpenter-s-side-hustle-is-really-hopping"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ramli Sulaiman, a 62-year-old carpenter from Kampung Gerai Tua, has turned his love for bush crickets into a successful side business. During his free time, the skilled woodworker crafts specialized wooden cages for hobbyists to house these insects, known locally as belalang rusa or belalang kerek. The competitions surrounding these critters, judged on the quality of their calls, have led to increased demand for Ramli's handcrafted cages.\n\nUsing materials such as wood and sago palm stems, each cage is tailored to the needs of its tiny occupants, ensuring proper ventilation, adequate space, and protection from heat and rain. Prices range from RM20 to RM70, depending on the chosen material, with more affordable versions made from sago palm stems being particularly popular among competitors who travel between events.\n\nRamli spends between two and three days completing each custom cage, which are often built to order. He also brings a selection to competitions held across the district, where grasshopper enthusiasts gather to compare their insects' calls and, of course, the quality of their respective cages. Ramli is an active participant in these events and has won prizes in the past, including pillows, blankets, and kitchenware.\n\nBeyond the competitive aspect, Ramli believes these grasshopper sound competitions foster community spirit and provide economic opportunities for those involved. By making high-quality cages, he aims to preserve the tradition of grasshopper-calling and keep the tradition alive for future generations.",
  "summary": "Ramli Sulaiman turns wood and sago palm stems into custom cages for prized bush crickets, or belalang kerek.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "This carpenter’s side hustle is really hopping",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/this-carpenters-side-hustle-is-really-hopping",
        "published": "2026-08-08T23:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}