BACHOK: Villagers once called Mohd Nazmie Che Mohd Ashari "crazy" for his habit of scavenging for scrap wood, but he can now beam with pride as he built his dream house out of the "wasted materials".

The 37-year-old teacher said that he began taking an interest in collecting wood about 13 years ago, when he entered the teaching profession.

"When I first started working, I bought a chainsaw and kept it in the car. When I got home from school, I would go to the area where people cut down trees or cleared out the forest. I would ask for their permission to take any wood, mostly tembusu, that they didn't want.

"At that time, some villagers referred me as 'the crazy teacher' for bringing home discarded wood," he told Bernama when met at his home in Pantai Senok here recently.

The English teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Long Yunus in Bachok, said that the wood he collected would then be used to make various items such as chairs, tables and toys for children.

"My wife and I decided to build a house in 2021, partly with my wood collection," he said.

According to Mohd Nazmie, in addition to tembusu, he also used cengal, mersawa, merawan and akasia wood to build his 1,800-square-foot traditional Malay-style house.

"My wife and I have always wanted a house with a traditional Malay design that is built high above the ground. So we agreed that 70 per cent of this house will be made of wood and 30 per cent from concrete," said the father of three.

Despite having zero experience in carpentry or home construction, Mohd Nazmie also opted to get his hands dirty and build the house himself.

"I learn from books and YouTube and right now I have two carpenters helping me build this house. In addition to designing the house, I also do cabinetry, doors, bathroom finishing and plumbing work.

"This house is currently 80 per cent complete; construction work has been slightly delayed due to the implementation of the Movement Control Order in 2021," said Mohd Nazmie who also runs a carpentary workshop in Bukit Marak.

-- BERNAMA