The champion of the capals

HASHIM Hassan would pedal from his home in Sungai Pinang on Penang island to the port about 5km away. He would then take a tongkang ( small boats or lighters) across the strait to Bagan Ajam on the mainland and cycle to Kepala Batas some 12km away. At 9.30am, he would open shop. Hashim was a capal maker. Capals are traditional Malay sandals.

At times, he would even stay back in Kepala Batas for several days just to complete his work for his customers.

His youngest son Badril Shahidan Hashim, 35, remembers the difficult life his late father went through.

“My father started Jago, a trusted brand name for capal, just a year after our country gained independence.

“His shop was tucked away in the quiet town of Kepala Batas and he was a familiar figure among the locals there.

“He was a very disciplined person. After waking up, he would have his prayers, go for a jog, go to the market, pay the utility bills and then start his business at 9.30am every day.

“I learnt a lot about discipline and capal making from my late father, who died 10 years ago,” he said.

Badril Shahidan is now the owner of Jago Gemilang Enterpris. He said National Day was always meaningful to his family because his late father had started the business a year after the country gained independence.

“To us, gaining independence is not only about the country being free from the clutches of colonists. We must also uphold the freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the freedom to make choices.

“Malaysians enjoy the freedom of professing their faiths and beliefs, unlike many other countries, which may have gained independence but ‘ freedom’ is yet to be given to their people,” he said when met at his shop in Jalan Perak, Kepala Batas.

Badril Shahidan who receives thousands of orders from his customers each year, said he picked up capal- making skills from his late father, who had learnt it from a Tok Guru ( master) in George Town.

“I made about six pairs of capal for former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, since I took over from my father in 1999.

“I have also made capals for leaders such as Socio- Cultural adviser to the Government Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim and former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam,” he said.

Badril Shahidan said that he makes four types of capal, namely – Diraja, Menteri, Panglima and Hulubalang.

“What makes the capal different from one another, are the patterns and materials used.

“There are 100% leather sandals, semi- leather and even PVC or PU sandals. It is up to the customer’s preference,” he added.

Badril Shahidan said he imports his leather from Brazil, Australia, India and Pakistan.

“Apart from that, I also bring in tiny nails from India to make the capal. The capals are handmade. I would normally take about an hour to make a pair.

“During Ramadan, I receive thousands of orders and work more than 20 hours a day for a month.

Badril Shahidan said he would always remember his late father’s advice.

“He told me that to be a hero, one has to be different. Yes, I can study hard and be a doctor. But how many doctors do we have each year? To be different, you need to be a specialist.

“I thought to myself, I want to be a specialist.. to be different. I learnt from my father and became a ‘ specialist’ in capal- making.”

As for the future, Badril Shahidan said that he would leave it to his two children, aged seven and 10, to choose if they want to continue his legacy making capal.

“I want to give them the freedom to choose their future career, just like my father gave me my freedom,” he said.