MALACCA: A rock, the size of a fist, on a table at an exhibition area of the Meteor Gallery at Muzium Rakyat in Bandar Hilir, near here, attracted a group of students who were on a visit to the museum.

“Do you know what rock is that ... pick it up, don’t be afraid ... feel the weight,” called out Datuk Jaafar Jamaludin, who was sitting across the room as he got up to approach the students.

Jaafar, 74, who is the owner of the Meteor Gallery, said the rock is a meteorite and among the Malay community it is used in the making of traditional Malay weapons such as the kris and spear blade.

He said western society are so caught up with meteorites that they are willing to spend weeks in the forest to get the rock.

Malaysians are mostly not interested in meteorites, he said, but believed the very few who do not want to be known.

“I have never met a meteorite collector in Malaysia, but I believe there are, but very few and they don’t want to be known,” he told Bernama recently.

Jaafar said he brought back his collection of meteoric stones, worth about RM500,000 (the value then) when he returned from Australia in 2003 after deciding to quit from his gemstone business.

“I brought back the black stones on the believe that it will bring benefits for Malaysians although many of my friends advised me against making investments in meteorites,” he added.

He said the raw meteorite is valued at RM10,000 per kg.

“I spent all my savings, after working for 45 years, for meteorites, but I have never regretted doing it,” he added.

Jaafar said to enable more people to have their own meteoric stone, he use it to make various products, such as key chain, massage oil, perfume, ring, locket and kris.

Meanwhile, a Form Four student of a school in Selangor, Wan Nurfarhana Wan Mohd Noor said it was her first look at a meteorite and was very happy to be able to touch it.

“All the while, I only see the meteorites in science books in the library ... it is heavier than normal stones and it is attracted to magnet,” she added. — Bernama