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So far, I can only access Mekyun’s Instagram account. For some reason, it’s more challenging to view the same video/reel on TikTok posted yesterday, which is also the first day of the Spring Festival/Snake Year. In February 2024, the influencer caught the attention of many with the variety of dishes that are typically served at one of her cousin’s places. Followers were treated to a virtual tour of what actually goes on in a typical Kelantanese Hokkien home. Viewers of that particular reel will likely remember the spread of dishes that included nasi lemak, sambal udang petai, as well as the typical pineapple tarts, due to its ONG-bringing (symbolising fortune/the coming of prosperity) name in Hokkien. As depicted in the video, eating with hands is also a common practice adopted by the Chinese community when enjoying Malay-style or even curry-based food/those dishes that pair well with a dipping sauce, after a long time of living in Malaysia.

This 2025, for the year of the snake, through Mekyun’s account, viewers are treated to other than the customary greeting “Kiong Hee Huat Tsai”, dialogue in none other than Kelantanese Malay – featuring her parents and elder brother in shades of red, and even an impromptu performance of dikir barat by her brother (before receiving angpow from his mother), with her support. Hilarity ensues because this is quite unique to the Kelantanese, although of course, there’s also dikir barat Singapura, but I think the number of Malay speakers in a Chinese household in Singapore is pretty limited, hence making this reel even more memorable. Their father’s reaction to the dikir barat performance is indeed comical because he actually jokingly expressed his dissatisfaction, that his son’s performance did not meet his expectations.

Mekyun on the other hand got to do her own impression of a lion dance, before receiving angpow from her parents. The twist, as evident in this reel, is that the children are also seen surprising their parents with angpow packets filled with money. Tradition states that the married are to extend red packets to the unmarried, although the same gesture can also be performed in an employer-employee capacity. Perhaps, these days, the younger generation, in the name of filial piety, are more aware and therefore wish to give back – once they have started working, have at least a source of income – something that occurs typically during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Ultimately, Mekyun’s reel and her actions in the reel is a reminder (yet again) to treasure the little things – especially your family. Other than that, she also took the opportunity to slot in a short one on appreciating Malaysia’s diversity – not just in terms of food, but also its people. There is also a reason why there’s pantangs/superstitions on New Year days, including on not using knives and scissors, as these two objects are believed to trigger/worsen fights and arguments in households observing the New Year based on the zodiac animal system.

Anyway, her latest update is that the Wee family of Hokkien ancestry is in preparation mode for a media interview tonight on a Malay Language news programme. So once again, the mother of this particular influencer and her other siblings will be cooking up something special in order to spice up the interview, while the head of the household will be dealing with other aspects, including the decorations.

Until the next post, Kiong Hee Huat Tsai/Sin Ni Khuai Lok (Hokkien) & Minta-minta murah jerki/ Se-lamat Taon Baru (Peranakan) to those observing the Snake Year!