M
etal “hunting” was a hobby Heidizaini Jurami took up less than a decade ago.
Back then, he was working as a handyman and never imagined that his recreational pastime would one day become the main source of income for him and his family.
“In the first year, I pursued this ‘hunting’ activity just for fun but after discovering various valuable (metallic) items, I began to take it more seriously,” Heidizaini, 46, who resides in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, told Bernama.
His wife Siti Norzehan Mohd Yatim also had a hand in convincing him to pursue metal detecting more seriously as she had watched videos of metal detectors in other countries earning lucrative returns from the activity.
“She told me they were able to find various items, including gold ornaments. She persuaded me to pursue this activity to supplement our family income as what I earned as a handyman was just enough to get by,” he said.
He then saved up some money and bought a second-hand metal detector costing RM2,000 and, with his wife in tow, went full-time into metal detecting in 2017; today, he is also busy running a business selling devices related to the activity.
ACQUIRE MORE KNOWLEDGE
Heidizaini said he and his wife used to watch YouTube videos to learn how to use the metal detector correctly from like-minded enthusiasts. The couple also joined metal-detecting communities on social media to improve their skills.
Initially, they carried out their metal detecting activity on the beaches around Selangor, such as Morib and Bagan Lalang but later ventured to other states and even neighbouring countries as well when they realised its good prospects. (Beaches are popular spots for “treasure hunters” as many beachgoers tend to lose jewellery, coins and other metallic items.)
“Eventually, we found that the income from selling the valuable items we discovered exceeded my earnings as a handyman. So, we started going to other states like Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Sabah and Sarawak to hunt for metallic items,” he said.
The couple, who have four children, also frequently uploaded videos of their activities on their social media accounts, attracting others to get involved in the field.
“Within four years, we managed to establish our own metal detecting group, which now has over 1,000 members.
“With a bigger team, we can cover larger areas, increasing the chances of finding valuable items. Besides gold ornaments, we’ve also discovered items such as old coins, which we sell to collectors,” Heidizaini said.
He also said although they work as a team, any item discovered belongs to the individual who finds it.
With the income from selling valuable finds, Heidi later purchased a metal detector worth thousands of ringgit which can detect iron and other metals buried up to four feet deep.
VENTURE ABROAD
Not satisfied with merely combing the beaches of Malaysia, Heidizaini and his team decided to explore opportunities abroad, visiting places like Krabi in Thailand and Bali, Indonesia.
metal hunting
However, he noted that metal hunting in foreign countries is not as straightforward as it is in Malaysia as many of their beaches have specific conditions, including obtaining permission from local authorities.
“This is because these areas are popular tourist destinations and the authorities want to ensure that such (metal detecting) activities do not disrupt visitors’ comfort.
“For instance, in Krabi, we were only allowed to search at night but our efforts paid off handsomely. During our five days there, we found numerous foreign coins and, most notably gold ornaments which we sold. The money we made (from the gold) was enough to cover our expenses, including flight tickets,” said Heidizaini, recalling that the 2018 trip to Krabi marked the first time he and his wife travelled abroad by air.
His wife Siti Norzehan, 46, meanwhile, said their children also sometimes join them in their “expeditions”.
“For them, it is an educational outing. For example, when we find coins from the British era, we share the history of British colonisation in our country with our kids.
“Discoveries of objects linked to the past also inspire people like us to explore and learn about the history of the locations where the items are found,” she said, adding their searches are not limited to beaches but also riversides and historical sites.
She added that the most exciting part of any hunt for metallic items is “when the metal detector beeps… at that moment, you can’t wait to dig and see what lies in there”.
EXPERTS
Having been in the metal detection field for seven years now, Heidizaini and Siti Norzehan can confidently consider themselves experts in the area.
Not only are they skilled in using metal detectors but they can also identify the type of metal detected by the different sounds emitted by the equipment.
“The detector makes distinct sounds, so we usually know what’s buried in the ground – whether it’s a coin, a piece of jewellery or something else,” Heidizaini said.
About five years ago, the couple was pleasantly surprised when they were contacted by Minelab Metal Detectors, a metal detector manufacturer based in Australia that had been following their activities on social media.
“They invited us to be their sole distributor in Malaysia and Asia as well,” Heidizaini said, adding the company helped them to open a store in 2019 in Sungai Buloh (Selangor) by providing capital and other support.
“Initially, our shop focused on supplying metal detectors, but two years ago, we expanded our offerings, turning the store into a one-stop centre for a complete range of equipment for metal detecting, including suitable clothing.”
Elaborating on the shop, Siti Norzehan said business is growing and since their store is Minelab Metal Detectors’ only authorised distributor in Asia, their customers are not just locals but also people from neighbouring countries.
“As a result, there are times when we have to keep the store open until 2 am,” she said.
“We don’t just sell equipment but also share our knowledge about the activity, especially with those just getting started. Interestingly, some of our customers are as young as 10 years old but are deeply interested in metal detecting.”
--BERNAMA
