Day to remember: (From left) Chan Shi Ting and Andy Oon Chien Sin, Eau and Beh, An Xue Qi and Ong Yong Jie, and Ong Wan Wei and Yong Jian Hui taking a ‘wefie’ to document the special moment. They were among 21 couples who tied the knot at the Kulai Che Ai Khor Character Uplifting Association in Johor yesterday.
KULAI: As an avid gamer, Eau Hui May can safely say she found love on the battlefield.
Spending her free time playing online games turned out to be the most fruitful investment for her as she captured the love of her life, Beh Wei Lin.
The administration executive from Penang said she used to play the multiplayer battle mobile game Honor of Kings, where they met.
“We often played on the same team so we had to chat and strategise with each other. I developed a good impression of him and he grew on me,” the 27-year-old said.
In early 2019, after they made their acquaintance online, they decided to meet face-to-face.
“I drove all the way from Johor Baru to Penang for our first official date and we hit it off right away,” said Beh, 32, a contractor.
“All this happened before the Covid-19 pandemic which restricted interstate travel. So during the movement control period then, we maintained our relationship via phone and video calls,” he said after the couple registered their marriage at the Kulai Che Ai Khor Character Uplifting Association here yesterday.
They had chosen to get married on Sept 9 due to the number nine being an auspicious homophone for “eternity” in Mandarin.
“We hope our love will last long,” Beh quipped, adding that Eau will be moving to Johor Baru after their wedding reception in November.
Another couple who similarly nurtured a long-distance relationship was Dr Yong Kai Yuan, a 28-year-old veterinarian based in Johor Baru, and Dr Ngan Siow Suen, 27, who works at a government hospital in Sarawak.Dr Yong said he met Dr Ngan through a mobile dating app last year and after three months of online exchanges, they agreed to meet up in person.
“Turned out we had a lot in common, including that we are both from Johor Baru and in the medical field.
“Despite our hectic schedules and the distance between us, we tried our best to make it work,” he said.
And work it did. In March, they decided that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.
“I hope to obtain a transfer to a government hospital in Johor Baru so we can start a family soon,” said a beaming Dr Ngan.
Earlier, around 30 of their loved ones, including Dr Ngan’s grandparents, witnessed the registration of their marriage at the association.
Sept 9 or 9/9 is favoured for tying the knot, with 21 couples registering their marriage there yesterday.
Association chairman Datuk Tan Ek Seng said now that the Hungry Ghost Month was over, many couples felt it was a good time to get married.
This month alone, 218 couples have been slated to register their marriage at the association, he added.
“September also coincides with the eighth month of the lunar calendar, which is an auspicious period for celebrations such as getting married and moving to a new house,” he said.
Tan added that today – the eighth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar – 17 couples will be sealing their union at the association as it is also an auspicious date.
Meanwhile, Johor Baru Tiong Hua Association marriage registration unit chief Datuk Kelvin Lee said 19 couples were betrothed at its building yesterday.
“Other upcoming popular dates for couples to wed are Sept 22, with 26 couples scheduled to register their union, as well as double-digit dates such as Oct 10 (10/10) and Nov 11 (11/11),” he said.
