Malay uncle sings in Cantonese for fellow patient
Malaysia is made up of a diverse group of individuals. But we set aside our differences to help our neighbours in trying times, as shown by countless individuals during the pandemic. Recently, a Malay uncle in a hospital went viral for a small, yet wholesome act – singing a popular Cantonese song to bring smiles to a fellow hospital patient, a Chinese elderly uncle.
The Malay uncle also offered to pray daily for the elderly uncle’s good health, with the pair also exchanging contact numbers so they could keep in touch with each other after they were both discharged.
Uncle’s Cantonese songs entertain elderly hospital patient
On Wednesday, 6th October 2021, TikTok user @Ivy_Neoh posted a video to her account documenting the wholesome exchange between her father and another patient, a Malay uncle, at a hospital ward in Kedah.
Along with the video, Neoh shared that she was “glad to see people from [different] races coming along together,” while thanking the uncle for “entertaining her sick father with a great Cantonese song”.
The video, although only 12 seconds long, has since racked up over 200,000 views at the time of writing this article. It has been capturing online attention due to the uncle’s impressive rendition of popular Cantonese song titled “Shanghai Beach” by Frances Yip, a famous Hong Kong singer.
His vocal chops, and impeccable pronunciation of Cantonese while singing the lyrics to the song, earned him the praise of Neoh, who called him “pandai” – or clever in English – in the video. It also brought joy to her father, seen sitting in a chair across from his bed with a big grin on his face as he listened to the song sung by a fellow patient.
The pair exchanged contacts after getting discharged
In an interview with Sin Chew Daily on 7th October, Neoh said that the exchange between her father and the uncle took place on 8th September at Kedah Medical Centre. Her father had been there for treatment, while the uncle had been admitted to the hospital ward due to injuries he had sustained in a car accident, according to his son who commented on Neoh’s TikTok video.
The two men had met by chance, but formed an unlikely friendship nonetheless. Neoh cited her father as being “very happy” as he was able to make a friend during his stay at the hospital.
Glad to see people from difference races coming along together. Thank you uncle for entertaining my sick father with a great Cantonese song 🥰🥰
Discover More On TikTokThe uncle’s rendition of the Cantonese song brought smiles to her father, and deeply moved her too. But it wasn’t just his song that touched her. She was also taken by surprise by the uncle’s action of coming to her father’s side to pray for his quick recovery before he was discharged, even offering to pray daily until he was fully recovered, as she shared in a follow-up TikTok video on Thursday, 7th October.
On the day of discharge for the Malay uncle. He went to my fathers bed to pray for my dad to get a quick recovery 😭 😭 I’m so touched 🥲 #fyp
Discover More On TikTokIn the same interview with Sin Chew Daily, Neoh revealed that her father and the uncle had exchanged phone numbers and home addresses, and continue to keep in contact with each other even as they are both now discharged from the hospital.
According to Neoh, the Malay uncle had told her that he enjoyed watching Chinese films and television shows, and listening to Chinese songs too – which comes as no surprise then as to why he was able to belt out the Cantonese hit as if it were no big deal.
Malay uncle sings in Cantonese for fellow patient
Hospital stays can be a difficult, and weary, time for patients seeking treatment and family members.
So it’s humbling to see individuals such as this uncle, who considered what he could do to entertain a fellow patient in the hospital ward, through a small, yet wholesome action even though they did not know each other.
We’re glad the two uncles have since been discharged from the hospital.
Read more here:
- Multilingual makcik speaks fluent Tamil & Cantonese to her neighbours
- Malaysians can now a ‘Purple Flag’ if they have something to donate during the pandemic
- M’sian PPV volunteer learns Bengali & Urdu to communicate with foreigners
Cover image adapted from: @ivy_neoh