KUCHING: For enthusiasts, the Lego pieces for the Kumang and Keling figurines in Dayak traditional costume are expected to be available in the market before June 2025.
Lego dealer Johnny Ng said he will present this idea to Lego headquartered in Vietnam for Asia, or otherwise if insufficient time to produce these Lego pieces, he will approach the West Malaysian based Lego pieces freelancers’ designers to produce them for Brickem Lego Store, where Ng is the sole dealer for Sarawak.
“I can ask them (Lego) to produce designs, definitely need design, and if Lego has enough time to produce the Lego pieces (for the Keling and Kumang), they should be able to do it before June (Gawai Dayak).
“Maybe tomorrow I will have discussions and present this idea to them, they have their own design team, equipment and facilities, if they have the sufficient time to produce the designs, otherwise, I think I will talk to the third party people who can do Lego designs.
“I know some are freelance Lego designers in KL, they design Lego pieces for their own hobby, I do follow some of the designers on their IG, so either go for freelance or ask Lego to design. After design from third party, I will need to buy the parts and build ourself and if from Lego, if they have enough time, they will build with their packaging, normally depend on the size, it’s just a small box, simple packing,” he said when met by The New Sarawak Tribune reporter here today.
The 49-year-old dealer said as of now, to look for local freelance Lego designers is quite easy, otherwise he would have to approach a company in Johor Bahru (JB) that helps to design Legoland in JB.
Lego is originally a Danish (Denmark) product with its headquarters in Denmark but now they have many manufacturers around the world. Recently they have set-up new factories in Vietnam, and near Shanghai in China. These two factories will be supporting all Asia and SEA markets.
According to history (Wikipedia) the Lego Group began in the workshop of Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891 – 1958), by a carpenter from Billund, Denmark, who began making wooden toys in 1932. In 1934, his company came to be called ‘Lego’, derived from Danish phrase, which means play well.
Recently, two figurines of ‘Kumang’ and ‘Keling’ adorning Dayak costume in Lego pieces became the craze of Lego enthusiasts as these figurines are something that is unusual figurines built by Lego pieces.
According to Ng, the figurines estimated to be between 80 to 90 centimetres tall are for display, and not available to be sold as it is very costly.
“Unless for display, and these will take about two to three months for Lego to build these figurines. The figurines at the tHe Spring Lego shop, I think Lego build them, and for these sizes of figurines, they are worth between RM20,000 to RM300,000 with 100 kilos Lego pieces and above, if they are to be sold. Therefore, the figurines I believed are mainly for display purposes only.
“I did ask one of them (Lego staff), he said it’s estimated at RM40,000 per figurine (one size between 80 to 90 centimetres tall), which they ask Lego to build for exhibit to build at that size,” he said.
To suit the local market taste for the Lego enthusiasts, he said maybe for the next production, Lego will make small Lego pieces for ‘Kumang’ and ‘Keling’ , which when sold later, it would not be so expensive, estimated to be between RM70 to RM80 per box, and about 10cm miniature size.
“If Lego cannot produce the pieces, then we can get local freelancers to produce the design, which later when sold, it will be much cheaper maybe about RM49 and above,” he said.
When asked if he will consider to build a longhouse from the Lego pieces, he said for the exterior of the Lego longhouse, estimated to be 30 centimetres long, it can be done.
“If you make the longhouse from Lego pieces for commercial, maybe it’s a little bit difficult, but for display, it is quite easy, maybe construct it and donate to council to display, or for small events, or to be put up in some locations where there are crowd, that can be done, using between 4,000 to 5,000 Lego pieces.
Ng, who is married with five children, has been building and playing Lego ever since when he was around eight years old.
“When I was younger, I used to buy Lego pieces at Ngiu Kee at Sarawak Plaza, long time ago. Now 49. Even now, I still play around with Lego pieces, if you see at the counter, those small ones I build myself,” he said.
When asked, what is so special about playing Lego, he said, it is because they stimulate one’s brain and teaching you how to be creative.
“Most clients who are Lego enthusiasts, and there are also some beginners who know how to build something from the pieces, actually it is very good for their brain system.
“It teaches you about creativity. Children really like to build something with Lego pieces as according o the imaginations and creativity, to train their brain, stimulate the brain, be creative, that’s what our government wants right, to be creative.
“For me it is an educational toy, it is not premium, more to educational, train your mindset,” he said.
Ng, started his Brickem Lego since 2016, when his shop was at CityOne, then right after a very bad incident at the mall, he closed his shop and continued online at www.brickem.com.my, until he decided to open a new outlet at Vivacity and another one at Jalan Tun Jugah here.
In one of his shops, Ng is also selling loose Lego pieces, which can be purchased just in case if Lego community would like to purchase for their ‘expansion’ of their project.
“I have two clients who are into Lego castle series, so they usually buy loose parts which are sold at a very cheap price at our stores, because they would like to ‘expand their castles’, they always buy the loose parts to expand their castle,” he said, and added that he is looking into opening an outlet in Miri soon.
