Cover image via @parcmalaysia (Instagram)
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
There's a man affectionately known as Uncle GP, or simply the Toy Doctor, who spends his Wednesdays and Fridays repairing broken toys and electrical items for the community at PARC in Subang Jaya
From old teddy bears to faulty gadgets, he's helping give sentimental items a second life instead of letting them end up in the bin.
"Doctors are for saving lives, but for me, I save the toys from being thrown away," Uncle GP shared in a video by PARC, a creative community space that hosts workshops, events, and sustainability-focused initiatives.
And for him, it's about more than just fixing objects
"When I do that, I feel good because whoever brings the toy, they can use it again," he said.
One story that stuck with him was about a 60-year-old man who brought in a teddy bear gifted by his mother during Christmas many years ago. After trying to wash it in the washing machine, the teddy bear's head came off.
The man brought it to Uncle GP for help, and with the assistance of Aida, his sewing-savvy assistant, the teddy bear was carefully repaired.
"When he came back to collect it, he was so happy. Like life came back to him," Uncle GP recalled.
He added that toys aren't just meaningful to children; adults and elderly people often hold deep emotional connections to them too.
Uncle GP previously spent more than 30 years working as an engineer in different factories, with his longest stint at General Electric
One day, while walking around PARC, he noticed they had a toy library and thought he could help out by repairing the toys there.
That small idea eventually turned into a regular community initiative centred around repair, sustainability, and reuse.
"My motive of coming here is to repair, reuse, recycle," he said.
If you have an old toy that no longer works, a sentimental plushie that's falling apart, or even small electrical items sitting unused at home, you can bring them over to PARC on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 1pm for Uncle GP to take a look
Some of the items he offers to repair include:
– Soft toys and dolls
– Battery/electronic toys
– Educational toys with light/sound functions
– Battery-operated stationery
– Small electrical appliances
They operate on a pay-as-you-can model, however, a minimum diagnosis fee is required.
In a world where most things are easily thrown away and replaced, there's something really comforting about seeing someone dedicate their time to fixing things, especially the ones people still hold close to their hearts.
Address
The XChange, PARC
Jalan SS12/1, Taman Subang Ria,
47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
Uncle GP's hours
9am – 1pm (Wednesdays and Fridays)
