Barbie Mania Hits Malaysia

K U A L A L U M P U R, Malaysia, Dec.12 -- This Barbie doll has no body, onlyher head.

Someone pilfered the smiling blonde noggin from a Mattelfactory, slipped it to a hairdresser, who, in turn, bestowed itupon Elizabeth Chrisostom.

The 41-year-old Malaysian has spent the past year hunting forher Barbie’s missing torso—scouring factory production lines,pawing through obscure toy shops and consulting Barbie fanaticsnationwide.

“She has an unusually small hole for her neck, it was justmystifying. I will do anything, anything, to help my Barbie getback her body,” she lamented.

Like many other Malaysians, Chrisostom has become a hardcoreBarbie devotee, amassing more than 150 dolls since 1997.

Barbie Seen As Glamour QueenConceived as an American Girl icon in 1959, Barbie MillicentRoberts-her full name-went on to become popular around the world.

Placed head to toe, the total production of Barbie dolls, familymembers and boyfriend Ken would circle the earth more than seventimes.

Barbie has represented 45 nationalities, and there are currentlythree Malaysian Barbies in production.

Heads of state attending the 1998 Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation forum in Kuala Lumpur were each handed an exclusivelytailored Malaysian doll.

“Barbie’s so glamorous,” gushed Goh Siu Lin, a lawyer with acollection of 40 dolls. “Most Malaysian live a ho-hum lifestyle,working day in, day out. But once you buy Barbie, you are drawninto her world of designer clothes and haute couture glamour.

Putting Malaysia in Barbie MapThe variety of Barbie dolls available in Malaysia was limiteduntil the ’80s, when Mattel set up production plants here, sparkinga Barbie boom in this predominantly Muslim nation.

Mattel has since relocated its factories to Indonesia, whereproduction costs are lower.

Chrisostom recently brought her disembodied doll to the officiallaunch of the Millennium Barbie Collectors Club. Joylynn Chong, theclub’s president, formed the group after bumping into a few seriousBarbie collectors this year.