By fixing things, Lam hopes to restore connections.

PETALING JAYA: While most people throw away broken items without a second thought, Johnson Lam Hooi Liang takes a different approach.

For him, each broken item is a chance to get it fixed and an opportunity to address the country’s culture of overconsumption.

Understanding that repairing items alone would not truly “fix” society, Lam, 45, founded KakiRepair in 2017, a grassroots movement dedicated to changing the way Malaysians view broken belongings.

Recognising that most people discard damaged items because they lack the tools, skills or space to fix them, he set out to challenge this throwaway culture by teaching people how to repair rather than replace.

“I grew up in a small village in Batu Kurau, Perak, where we could not afford to buy new things.

Quick fix: Members of the public taking part in KakiRepair’s workshop while being assisted by KakiRepair volunteers at Taman Sea, Petaling Jaya.

“Back then, we had to make do with what we had. If something broke, we’d gather materials around us and fix it.

“That’s how I started building and repairing things from a young age,” he said.

This led to Lam’s lifelong appreciation for resourcefulness which he now uses to host frequent Kaki­Repair events for people to learn how to repair everyday appliances and items.

These events, which are free for anyone to attend and self-funded by Lam, provide participants with the space, tools and guidance from him and other volunteers to begin repairing their own items.

Attendees are also encouraged to bring their own broken or damaged items which can range from stand fans to vacuum cleaners, among others.

Multiple platforms: Lam shares repair guide videos on his social media page and travels around the country hosting KakiRepair sessions in his truck.

“The shared spaces are sometimes sponsored by community spaces, offices or shopping malls while we supply the tools.

“We also make use of online resources and videos to better teach repair skills which gives sceptics no more excuse not to repair,” he said.

Lam has organised at least 30 physical KakiRepair sessions across Malaysia, including in Sabah and Sarawak, helping over 2,000 people to learn how to repair things, before the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also showcases quick repair guide videos on his Kaki DIY YouTube channel for everyday items with some of his videos reaching hundreds of thousands of views.

He uses the reward money from these videos to help run KakiRepair events with occasional sponsorship from brands and corporations.

Lam’s dedication has transformed the once-vague movement into a full-fledged community with KakiRepair’s Facebook page growing from just a few thousand members before the pandemic to the current 160,000.

“During the pandemic lockdown, items worth an estimated RM300,000 were repaired under our virtual guidance, which helped the community grow quickly.

optional picKakiRepair founder Johnson Lam posing for a photo in his KakiRepair truck during a one of KakiRepair's workshops in Taman Sea, Petaling Jaya

“We also helped out Taman Sri Muda flood victims by repairing damaged items worth at least RM300,000 in just four days.

“At present, people help each other fix hundreds of items online worth potentially millions of ringgit – from electronics, home appliances and gadgets – through our Facebook page,” he said.

Lam’s growing online community became the only Malaysian to become a finalist of the Facebook Community Accelerator programme in 2022 which earned him additional funding.

Always looking to give back to the community, Lam used the prize money to build his own truck which he now uses to store tools while travelling around the country to host KakiRepair sessions.

He said these sessions have not just taught people how to repair items but also improved their ability to communicate with their neighbours and community.

“Many participants have told me that after joining KakiRepair sessions, they started talking to their neighbours more and spreading the repair tips and tricks they learnt from us.

“This is the real change I wanted to see – not just fixing things but rebuilding the way we connect with one another.

“Through this, I hope Kaki­Repair can become a household activity in the future like the gotong-royong spirit of old times where neighbours naturally come together to fix things,” he said.

The growing popularity of Lam’s KakiRepair sessions eventually led to the movement expanding beyond state borders with active communities in Sabah and Penang also hosting their own KakiRepair events.

Lam is currently pushing to expand the movement to three other states, starting with Sarawak, Johor and Terengganu and eventually, all other states.

“I believe repairing should start at home, not just fixing physical items but also applying the same mindset to fixing problems in our lives and communities.

“At the end of the day, being human is about solving problems and that’s a skill we should never lose. “This is why my focus now is on building community leaders who can independently run their own KakiRepair movements locally,” he added.

In a world obsessed with the new, Lam now stands as a leader of a quiet revolution – one repaired item, one conversation and one changed mindset at a time – through KakiRepair.

Lam’s work has been further recognised with the Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) that honours Malaysians who go above and beyond to help others.

“The award has really validated our impact as I sometimes wondered if what we were doing was enough to move society.

“But this recognition has given me and my volunteers new motivation to keep going,” he said.

For his noble efforts, Lam is named as one of the 10 winners of the SGHA 2025.

SGHA is an annual award by The Star that honours everyday Malaysian unsung heroes.

For details, visit sgha.com.my.