First time bringing husband celebrate Chinese New Year after 20 years of acquaintance
KUALA LUMPUR: Beginning with the first introduction in 2003, Chong Li Yen never thought she would meet a match with a Muslim man.
Li Yen said that she went through several episodes of ‘drama’ before she was successfully married in December 2020 with her partner, Syafiq Saadon.
“The journey of our love story in a television drama. The first time I told my father about my husband, I got resistance from the family.
“Due to cultural and religious differences, our relationship broke up in 2007 after four years of dating. After that we went our separate ways. I continued my studies at one of the colleges in Kuala Lumpur while Syafiq was in Kuantan.
“It’s sad because he was the first man who managed to win my heart since I left school. I realize that for us to get married, the road is not easy because many hearts need to be taken care of,” she said.
After 10 years, fate found them again when Syafiq returned to Kuala Lumpur and got a job in the capital.
“Just like in the song, ‘Jodoh Pasti Bertemu’, imagine after 10 years of no contact, Allah SWT finds us again.
“This time we are determined to take the relationship to a serious level and find Syafiq with family members.
“Alhamdulillah, Syafiq explained a lot about the beauty of Islam to the family and after a few months, family members agreed to our relationship,” she said.
Li Yen, who kept his original name, said she expressed her desire to convert to Islam by discussing it with his family first, since converting is a sensitive matter for non-Muslims.
“Throughout our introduction, Syafiq gave me a lot of advice and guided me to deepen my faith. Not interested in Islam because of marriage.
“In September 2019, I recited the shahadah under the guidance of Sheikh Hussein Yee witnessed by my family members and also my husband’s family,” she said.
Li Yen and Syafiq got married at the office of the Federal Territories Department of Islamic Religion (JAWI) during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
Even more special, this year’s Chinese New Year celebration brings a lot of meaning to this couple considering that this is Li Yen’s first time to celebrate in a big way after the country went through the pandemic phase.
“We enjoyed lunch at a restaurant with other family members in traditional Chinese clothing. My husband is also eager to get a decent shirt, be aware that he has never had a big meal with my family before.
“I am grateful that both families accepted us well and I am lucky to live in two families of different religions that not everyone can have,” she concluded.
