by SANTHIYA GANESHAMURTHY 1002579984, Jason Wong Tze Sam 1002579031

Chong Kai Xin 1002579934, Su Liqi 1002581091

KUALA LUMPUR—— Lim Tai Han lost the use of his legs in a car accident in 1993. More than three decades later, he can still be found behind Muzium Negara, carefully engraving names onto keychains at a small stall he has operated for the past 23 years.To visitors, Lim is simply the craftsman behind the stall. However, few know that the skill which now defines his daily routine emerged from one of the most difficult periods of his life.

Lim Tai Han, 54, working at his keychain stall at the back entrance of Muzium Negara.

Before becoming a craftsman, Lim worked with heavy machinery and was training to operate a JCB excavator. His future seemed promising until a car accident changed everything. At the time, he was accompanying a friend who was learning to drive. Sitting in the back seat, he fell asleep during the journey. When he regained consciousness, he realised he could no longer feel his legs.

Lim Tai Han working on the making of a keychain by bending the metal wire.

“It was sad,” Lim recalled. “I didn’t know what to think. Suddenly, I couldn’t feel my legs anymore.” The accident left him paralysed from the waist down and uncertain about his future. Beyond the physical pain, he worried about how he would continue living and supporting himself. Despite the challenges, Lim received unwavering support from his family and friends, who stood by him throughout his recovery.

Following the accident, Lim enrolled in a rehabilitation centre for people with disabilities, where he first learnt how to make engraved keychains and charms. What began as a new skill eventually became his livelihood. In 2003, a friend who operated a stall behind Muzium Negara decided to stop working due to illness and invited Lim to take over the space. He accepted the offer and has remained there ever since.

Although business is unpredictable, Lim continues to run the stall. Some days bring good earnings, while others bring almost none. Yet, for him, the stall represents more than income. “If I stay at home, it’s boring,” he said. “If I come here, it gives me something to do.”

The team takes a group picture with Lim Tai Han