Enthusiast has been collecting bus artefacts for 18 years
-
He has more than 500 pieces of bus-related items including guides, tickets and service plates.
Full-time national serviceman Muhammad Zakaria Azmi, 25 , has spent about $1,500 on these items, which he bought from scrapyards and bus depots.
Their prices ranged between $10 for a service plate and $300 for a digital service number display.
Mr Zakaria, who has a diploma in aerospace engineering, said: "I started collecting bus guides in my primary school days as I took a public bus to school every day.
"I'm fascinated by how these artefacts bring back memories for commuters.
"When my elderly uncles visit and see the artefacts, they start telling me about bus routes in the 1980s."
For Mr Zakaria, bus number plate SBS2701Z holds special meaning as it has his birthday, Jan 27, and initial "Z" on it.
It was given to him by a friend who picked it up from a scrapyard.
Mr Zakaria often chats with the driver when he takes a bus.
He said: "Not everyone can be a bus captain.
"It's interesting to know the captain's life story and how he started his job."
His favourite bus service is 176, which he took to get to his primary and secondary schools in the west.
He is an only child and his parents are supportive of his collection, he said.
Mr Zakaria, who lives with them in a five-room flat in Pandan Gardens, said: "My parents allowed me to use the master bedroom as my room so that I have space for my collection.
"They encourage me to pursue my hobby as long as I keep my room clean."
COMMUNITY
Together with a friend, Mr Zakaria is also working on building a remote-controlled bus model measuring 1m by 18cm by 30cm, which he hopes to commercialise in the future.
He has contributed some 15 items to the Our Bus Journey bus carnival.
He estimated that there are about 150 bus enthusiasts in Singapore, saying: "The community of bus enthusiasts is definitely growing.
"Some of them are influenced by friends.
"There are bus enthusiasts as young as seven years old."
Mr Zakaria feels commuters should be more courteous to bus drivers.
He said: "We often complain when bus services are delayed. But some reasons for their delay, such as road conditions, are inevitable.
"Simple gestures, such as saying thanks when a bus waits for you to catch it, can make a bus captain's journey more enjoyable."
-
Remote control buses..Pls make it commercialise so that i can buy for my sons.My 8 years old son can even start my car and my 600cc motorbike.
-
Haha at least it is Zakaria...
Some other bus enthus actually stole stuff (some even blatantly in public) for collection
@SBS9631X this is why SBS9595S isn't on it's marked perm svc just saying -
Crazy.
but then, it's funny how some people are so crazy about buses.
They spend their time, so much of it, collecting bus artefacts and spotting buses. There is nothing more that they actually do. At the end of the day, what have they got? Just some bus related stuff. What have they given up? Their life (and money).
Stupid.
Being obsessed with buses got future meh?
If you are really interested about cars, bikes, buses and everything else that has motors, gears and stuff, I rather you do well in secondary school and pursue a course on mechanical engineering, in ITE, Polytechnic and the University. Next time you can be mechanic, and take care of something you really like, while make a living out of it. Wouldn't that be better?
-
He is already a graduated in aerospace engineering mah..No future?Are you that sure?So are you a lawyer or super rich guy?
-
Okay. Sorry. My bad.
He is probably a rare case.
It is sad that many enthusiasts are obsessed with buses at the expense of their future and money.
-
It's their own money anyway, not on your basis to judge them on how they want to use it
-
aerospace industry is pretty much in demand.
what's wrong with hobbies? buses?