Even as an international award-winning calligrapher, 25-year-old Ahmad Abdul Hadi said his skills still pale in comparison to true masters of the art.

Even so, for over an hour this morning, Ahmad guided a group of participants who attended a khat writing workshop and competition hosted by Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil at the local community library in Bukit Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur.

The children from as young as six-years-old looked on curiously as Ahmad displayed his arsenal of writing tools - from pens made of wood, metal and ivory, a special ink with silk threads to control its flow and a square of rabbit skin used as a wrist pad...