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Nobody likes discussing the end of one’s life, especially when it involves your loved ones. However, when the time comes, no matter how heavy, the necessary preparations and arrangements have to be made. Even whilst grieving, those who are still able to will have to attend to the departed and make sure their passing is handled as smoothly and peacefully as possible to minimise misunderstanding (especially amongst attendees who would usually accompany the deceased to his/her final resting place).

As Mother’s Day in Malaysia is around the corner, the collaboration-type effort could not have come at a better time. Although, understandably, in the video, a departed fictional father is being mourned, the message would still apply, regardless of whoever portrayed in the video.

It is not always easy to be lighthearted about a subject as heavy as death. Yet, Jing Jing was able to execute it by inserting some Harry Potter-like hints to make it feel like the departed have never left. This will hopefully in some way make the younger generation relate to it more.

There are also actually two people, who are being mourned in this video. One is the departed (fictional) father, and the other, the father’s favourite kopitiam “uncle”, who has passed away. The way it is done is pretty neat and conversational, also relatable, making this video worth highlighting.

The humour (using the technique of flashback) in this video is pretty much Chinese in essence, and despite being of a particular culture, I think most of us would do anything to get our parents their favourite food. I mean, if you’re from Southeast Asia, unless you’ve not stepped into an actual kopitiam before, I think you deserve to go and have a cuppa because there’s much to discover just within the kopitiam walls – way before there’s all the classy names for premium, branded coffee on the market.

You’d likely have your favourite kopitiam “uncle”, given that Malaysia and Penang specifically have its own version and fusion of food and drink. More often than not, you’ll pair your favourite food with a cuppa kopi, regardless of the time of day, for as long as the kopitiam is open and available for takeaways and/or deliveries. But it’s always more traditional and authentic to sit at the kopitiam itself and enjoy every sip. So, if a particular favourite kopitiam “uncle” has passed on, it’ll feel like a treasure lost, heritage gone.

And I think, in this case, using Yew Char Kway (to the Malay community it’s cakoi) is not only relatable, but perfect and really just touches your heart. Talk about food to any Malaysian and you’ll get smiles, laughter, and loads of reminiscing, especially if you are abroad, away from your usual favourite spots, or just pining for your departed loved one’s cooking or thinking back to the memories spent at your favourite stall together.

Most importantly, regardless of your beliefs, you should treasure your loved ones, especially when you’ve been raised and showered with abundant love, kindness, honesty and humility in practice. At the end of the day, they won’t be around for long and you’d surely hope for a peaceful departure. Visiting a columbarium should also be a calming experience.

The collaboration is made possible with a columbarium based in Penang’s Georgetown, where their head office is. However, the one depicted in the video is the company’s mountain and seaside columbarium, as Penang is after all an island. So, this particular location (if selected) makes visitors feel more warmth, at peace, tranquil, and relaxed. Towards the end of the short two-minute video, a contact number is provided if you’re interested in their offering(s).

Jing Jing is a Penangite with Hokkien roots and has been creating content that centres around keeping the Hokkien tongue alive, although she also uses some Mandarin where appropriate to cater to a wider audience.