The event, held from Aug 22-24 at the Hopewell Hotel, was a haven for diecast, model-car and miniature enthusiasts.
Kraken House was the only Malaysian brand to receive a special invitation, proudly standing alongside more than 50 renowned names such as PopRace and Inno64 from China, and Tomica and Tomytec from Japan.
Its founder, Rahiman Rahizar, admitted he felt a mix of emotions upon arriving in Hong Kong. He worried that their miniatures, which celebrate Malaysian nostalgia and heritage, might not appeal to visitors who were used to sleek, modern products from other competitors.
But all fears melted away once he witnessed the overwhelming response. “My team and I went to Hong Kong asking ourselves, will people stop by our booth? Will they even care about a Malaysian brand?” Rahiman, 30, recalled.
“We would never have thought that the Malaysia Series would be the one to sell out,” he added, noting that the locals there were drawn to Malaysian designs – to the point of eagerly buying them – even though they took pride in their own architecture.
Kraken House’s overseas success shouldn’t be all that surprising: in Malaysia, their ready-to-assemble model kits are always in high demand. Rahiman recalled how, during the Malaysia Diecast Expo 2024, their products didn’t even make it onto the display racks before being snapped up by fans.
“We’d brought a few hundred Malaysia Series model kits, but they sold out on the first day. We had to rush back to our factory in Klang to produce more sets for the second day. And those sold out, too!”
Every Kraken House model is crafted with precision, inspired by real-life buildings such as traditional kampung houses, Central Market, the Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan, and other iconic sites in Klang, Melaka, and Penang.
The result is stunning, detail-rich replicas that buyers can assemble and paint according to their own creativity and imagination.
He added that Kraken House is working to secure intellectual property rights from local automotive companies.
“If everything goes well, we’ll be able to produce diecast models like Rapid buses, the Perodua Myvi, or even the classic Proton Wira – vehicles that are very close to Malaysians’ hearts,” he said.
Already, the brand proudly exports its products internationally. A client in Dubai has ordered 4,800 units comprising seven sets, while negotiations on quantity are ongoing with a Canadian distributor.
Potential distributors from Vietnam, Mauritius, and the Philippines have also expressed interest.
“This is not just a success for Kraken House, but proof that products celebrating Malaysian identity can break into the global market,” Rahiman concluded.