Over the decades, the retired photographer has gathered more than 1,000 stamps and over 150 cameras, many of which date back to the early days of film photography.
Now, he hopes his prized collections will continue to be appreciated long after he is gone.
“If my children or grandchildren want to keep them, I would be very happy,” he told Bernama at his home in Pangsapuri Kampung Tiong here recently.
“If not, I will donate them to a museum or community club so others can enjoy them,” he added.
Wang began collecting stamps when he was 15, when letters and greeting cards were a common part of everyday life.
“People rarely send letters now,” he noted with a wistful smile. “In the past, during birthdays or festive seasons, everyone mailed greeting cards. I truly miss those days.”
One small tradition still continues: his daughter, who lives in Kuala Lumpur, sends him a birthday card every year.
“I keep the stamps from those cards as part of my collection,” he said.
Among his prized pieces is a Malayan independence stamp issued in 1957, which he bought at a post office that year.
For Wang, stamps can carry great historical value. “Every time I look at the independence stamp, I remember my teenage years and feel proud that I have a small piece of the nation’s history.”
As a young collector, he often searched through the bins around office buildings in Kuala Terengganu for discarded envelopes with stamps.
“I would carefully cut out the stamps and store them in albums,” he recalled.
He would also exchange stamps with friends in other states, sending those from Terengganu to collectors in locations like Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak.
His collection even includes several personalised stamps featuring photos of himself and his late wife, Aw Siew Wong, produced in 1980 through a special postal programme.
Beyond stamps, Wang is passionate about cameras and photography. The father of three once ran a photo studio in Kuala Terengganu and has spent more than 66 years behind the lens.
Today, his collection includes cameras produced from the 1950s to the present day, ranging from classic film cameras to Polaroids. Among them is the iconic Rolleiflex camera from Germany.
Most are still in working condition, although some that are damaged can no longer be repaired as spare parts are difficult to find.
Wang revealed that over the years, he has sold several cameras to help cover living expenses. The highest price he ever received was RM10,000 for a Leica camera.
Yet, one camera will never leave his collection: a Yashica film camera he bought in 1960, which holds deep sentimental value.
“I used it to take photographs of scenery and tourists around Kuala Terengganu to earn extra income,” he recalled.
“It accompanied me as I worked and captured many important moments in life.
“If my children do not wish to keep the collection, I only ask that this Yashica camera be buried with me.”
Even in the age of digital photography, Wang remains loyal to film. To him, developing photographs in a darkroom brings a special satisfaction that modern technology cannot replace.
“When you watch an image slowly appear on paper, it feels magical,” he said. “That process teaches patience and makes us appreciate every photograph even more.”