Selising: While many Chinese families are celebrating Chinese New Year with their loved ones, 75-year-old Tan Eng Wang chooses to celebrate the occasion with her Malay neighbours. Each year, the owner of a local hair salon prepares various traditional Malay dishes, such as nasi dagang, ketupat, and satay, as a gesture of appreciation for her neighbours’ kindness and generosity.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tan expressed that many of her relatives have passed away, which is why on the first day of Chinese New Year, she celebrates with her Malay neighbours. She intends to keep the tradition of sharing blessings through feasts and giving ‘angpau’ (red envelopes) as a way of honoring these relationships. During an interview at her home in Selising, she shared that this custom has been passed down to her daughter and grandchildren as a demonstration of strong friendship and affection towards their neighbors, who have become akin to family.

Tan, who has lived in the area for over 40 years, mentioned that she has never felt alienated living in a Malay village. Her hair salon has become a regular gathering spot for her Malay neighbors to enjoy afternoon tea. She noted that if any issues arise or help is needed, her neighbors are always there to lend a hand, and she reciprocates in kind. Tan also mentioned her plans to visit relatives in Bachok and Kuala Krai the following day.

Meanwhile, 73-year-old Kamariah Daud, a neighbor and long-time friend of Tan, shared that she and her family are always welcomed at Tan’s home during Chinese New Year. Kamariah expressed how moved they are by Tan’s thoughtful gesture and her consistent remembrance of friends each year, highlighting that all the dishes prepared by Tan are traditional Malay dishes ordered from local Malays.