A man meticulously applies white makeup, transforming his face into a cheerful canvas as he carefully paints on a wide smile.
This is Muhammad Ar-Rabi Ab Ghani, a 37-year-old who has dedicated his life to bringing laughter as a full-time clown.
Donning a small black hat, Harry Potter-style round glasses, and a vibrant costume, the soft-spoken Muhammad transforms into Acik Amat Clown, radiating silliness and energy.
“When I see the joy on people’s faces, it’s all worth it,” the father of two told FMT Lifestyle.
Games, face painting, sand art, cotton candy and popcorn are part and parcel of each session with Acik Amat Clown. He performs at various events, mostly on weekends, including birthday parties, carnivals, reunions, festivals, and corporate gigs.
These days, Muhammad takes only 20 minutes to apply his makeup, having mastered it after numerous attempts of trial and error since he started in 2008.
He can still remember the happy faces of children during his first public appearance as a clown at a festival that year, making balloon swords.
Growing up in Damansara as the sixth of 11 siblings, he shared that his childhood wasn’t as colourful as the world he inhabits now.
He only studied up to Form 3, and it was until after high school, while working as a despatch rider, that he encountered his first group of clowns comprising old high school friends.
They showed him the ropes and ignited his passion for the art. Subsequently, he worked alongside them as a troupe before deciding to go solo after nearly a decade.
His wife, 36-year-old Salina Aziz, has been his greatest champion: “I am very thankful to her because she manages everything and deals with customers. She is very supportive,” Muhammad said.
In fact, it was she who encouraged him to step out on his own. “When we got married, he wasn’t confident about working alone,” Salina recalled.
“I bought him clown supplies and asked him to learn from other clowns. When he said he didn’t have a costume, I made it for him.”
Their teamwork has turned what might have been a simple job into a thriving business. And their children, too, have played a significant role in Muhammad’s clowning journey.
“They feel happy when they see me as a clown,” he said. “Sometimes they give me ideas, and I do use them.”
His 12-year-old daughter, Nur Dhia Addurra, is particularly a fan. “I feel proud that my dad works as a clown and sacrifices for our family,” she said.
Asked about memorable moments, Muhammad said one of his most poignant experiences involved his work at a children’s cancer ward in 2018.
“I went from bed to bed making balloons, asking how they are. They’d been in the ward for too long. It was fun for them when I came and gave them goodies,” he recalled.
Despite the lighthearted nature of his work, he stressed that being a clown requires commitment and perseverance. “You need to deliver quality performances to keep people happy,” he said.
And you might be surprised to learn he goes up against some fierce competition from other clowns! Still, Muhammads’s faith keeps him grounded: “I believe that if it’s meant for me, it’s meant for me; it won’t go to another person.”
Salina, too, acknowledges the scepticism they have faced. “People have questioned if he could make a living doing what he does. But I am confident. He is hardworking, and as long as he is, we will have good fortune.”
Indeed, Muhammad plans to keep Acik Amat Clown alive “for the next seven to eight years”. He currently has two other clowns working under him, and hopes to expand his business further.
And to spice things up, he’s even learning magic to add to his repertoire – even if, by all accounts, there’s magic aplenty in what he already does: touching lives and spreading happiness to both young and old.