'SALON CHENG CHENG' FORGING FAMILY BONDS BEYOND RACE

By Sakini Mohd Said

KUANTAN, April 5 (Bernama) -- Exploring retail buildings on Lorong Tun Ismail, Sri Dagangan, located near several popular spots in the district, one cannot help but notice the only hair salon among the many outlets there.

Stepping into Cheng Cheng, named after its owner, one immediately feels at home. The atmosphere feels familiar thanks to the hospitality of the 62-year-old hair stylist, regarded by her customers from diverse backgrounds as a mother, sister, and close friend.

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Lim Mei Cheng’s hair salon, which has been operating for over 25 years, is the preferred choice among her customers not only because of her fluency in Malay or exceptional hairstyling skills but because she offers them so much more.

“I consider Aunty Lim my adopted mother here in Kuantan because she has been very supportive and always checked in on me when I moved here from Kuala Lumpur over a year ago. That bond has remained today,” Amirah Othman, 38, told Bernama.

Reminiscing about their first meeting, Amirah said it all began when she needed a haircut. She said Lim showed a genuine interest in getting to know her and asked about her background, which made Amirah feel at ease.

“She asked for my phone number, saying it would be easier to contact if anything came up. I never expected that she would treat me like family on my first visit to her salon. Despite our different backgrounds, she welcomed me warmly, understanding the challenges of someone new to the area.

“She often messages me and recommends good restaurants and food stalls. She even introduces me to friends for hiking activities,” she said.

Having known Lim since the 1980s, when she first opened her salon at Pasar Besar Kuantan, a customer who wished to be known only as Sari, 62, said that aside from Lim’s skill in styling hair to complement different facial features, her warm personality also makes customers feel comfortable sharing their personal stories with her. 

“We’ve known each other since we were young and single…Even though we are from different backgrounds, Lim’s fluency in Malay and familiarity with other cultures make me comfortable being friends with her.

“It feels natural sharing my stories with her, whether about work or family. Throughout my years of knowing her, I’ve seen how she treats all customers equally, without discrimination. She even goes the extra mile by offering to send her customers home if they have trouble finding transportation,” she said.

Growing up in multicultural surroundings has made it easy for Lim to assimilate with people of various backgrounds.

Lim also enjoys nasi kerabu, ikan patin tempoyak, sambal udang petai, various salads eaten with budu (fermented anchovy sauce) or tempoyak (fermented durian paste)  as well as Indian-style fish head curry, believing that Malaysia’s diverse cultures and traditional foods are a priceless heritage.

“I grew up in a predominantly Malay community with my grandmother in Kuantan. I often accompanied her to sell drinks in Malay areas, and she taught me the importance of respecting other races. I was encouraged to befriend people from different backgrounds from a young age.

“This is where my Malay language skills improved over time. When people ask where I went to school, they are often surprised, assuming I attended a national school, but I studied at a Chinese vernacular school. My friends were Chinese, Malay, and Indian, so communicating in Malay became easy,” she said.

Lim said her grandmother always emphasised avoiding prejudice and erroneous judgments toward others, advice that she still adheres to today.

“She always said that whether someone is Chinese, Malay, or Indian, we are all the same—one big family—and she reminded us not to fight. She also said that no community can thrive on its own without the help of others. That is the uniqueness of Malaysia—its people live in unity, supporting and helping one another,” Lim added.

-- BERNAMA