1Malaysia style wedding

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MUAR: A Chinese couple here created a first when they decided to wed in a traditional Malay bersanding and accompanied by Indian music, silat and a lion dance.

Tai Lik Sing, 29, from Pagoh, who married Lim See Sin, 23, from Bukit Pasir, underwent the ceremony at the Pagoh Yong Peng rest and recreation (R&R) area recently.

According to the groom’s father Tai Hing Sing, 49, the family decided on the Malay bersanding ceremony as they had been living among the Malays in Pagoh for years.

Proud parents: Hing Sing (left) and Teh (right) flanking their newly-wed son and daughter-inlaw.

He said when he discussed the idea with several friends, including PLUS Expressways S3 R&R manager Nor Haidi Yahya, all supported the plan for the Malay-style wedding.

“PLUS then allowed us to use the R&R site for the ceremony and the site is big enough to seat about 1,000 guests.

“Besides the bersanding and menepung tawar, we also had bunga manggar, Indian music, a lion dance troupe, silat, traditional dances and a live band to entertain the guests,” he said recently.

Hing Sing said his wife Teh Mee Choo, 47, was also very happy to see their eldest son getting married and holding the bersanding ceremony. They regarded the occasion as a 1Malaysia wedding.

Truly unique: The couple arriving at the R&R area accompanied by bunga manggar carriers and a lion dance troupe.

To a question, he said his son and Lim had known each other for more than seven years and both worked with him attending to his businesses in Pagoh and at the R&R area.

Meanwhile, Jorak assemblyman Datuk Dr Shahruddin Mohd Salleh said the Malay-style wedding by a Chinese couple showed the respect and understanding the Tai family had for their Malay neighbours.

He said he felt touched to see the bridegroom wearing a Malay traditional costume complete with a tanjak or headgear and a kris.

Among the guests who attended the wedding were Muar district officer Amran Abdul Rahman and special officer to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Lim Pey Hen.