| Lyna Mohamad |
THE Borneo Kustom Show (BKS), which was officially launched yesterday, is expected to change people’s perception towards the country’s automotive industry which lacks proper platforms to nurture the market.
Speaking to the Sunday Bulletin on the sidelines of the launching ceremony yesterday, founder of BKS Brunei Asmalee bin Haji Ariffin said that with the holding of the BKS and with support from relevant government and private agencies, the country’s automotive industry can be further developed.
The launching ceremony held at Bridex Hall 2, Jerudong began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, led by Mosque Affairs Officer at Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Mosque, Haji Kamaruzaman bin Haji Jakar.
Launching the BKS 2018 by cutting the ribbon were guests of honour at the ceremony Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Abdul Rashid bin Pengiran Kerma Raja Pengiran Haji Kamarulzaman and Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.
Also joining in the ceremony were Dato Jack Ting, Managing Director of Cityneon Displays and Asmalee bin Haji Ariffin, as members of the BKS organising committee.
2018 marks the third year running of the BKS and since it was first organised, the organising committee has chosen March as the month for the show, Asmalee said, adding that the show focusses on displaying modified and vintage cars that are seldom seen on the roads.
The show also serves to provide a platform for the local young people who own their own car accessory or workshop business but have no appropriate platform to promote their products and services.
“I myself run a motor workshop so I know how it feels. There is no platform to expose what we have to offer, so I started this event and invited those local businesses to come in and display their products and services,” he said, adding that “registered associations are also invited to participate”.
Asmalee noted that the event has grown over the past three years.
“The first year saw only local participation while last year, the show was enlivened by several overseas participants.”
This year, added Asmalee, there are quite a number of participants from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand who will showcase their products and services with some also displaying their cars. Additionally, Asmalee high-lighted that they have also done networking arrangement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kustomfest Indonesia and AOS Malaysia, who are the biggest organisers of BKS in Asia, recording an attendance of more than 50,000 at their events.
“We have a MoU every year where they invite us to their events and they will also come over to BKS in Brunei, and it is through this networking that we get participants from abroad.”
Meanwhile, the Sunday Bulletin approached an avid participant of BKS Brunei who has been attending the show since its inception.
Hafizul Rahman bin Hassan said he is happy to have his 2005 Subaru WRX STi selected to be among the many displays at the show.
Sponsored by Ahwiygarage.bn Auto Body Work, Hafizul has made just a few simple preparations within a period of two weeks and is satisfied with the body works done on his car.
Hafizul, who owns his own repair workshop Reyz Performance Garage, specialises in Subaru cars.
He said he heard of BKS through his friends who encouraged him to participate in the show representing the Brunei Subaru Club group and hoped to be able to participate again in the future editions of BKS as well as other motor shows.