A CNY marked by poverty
While wealth and prosperity are a common theme in Chinese New Year greetings, many still celebrate the occasion with very little or nothing at all.
Photographs by MalaysiaNow
Forty-three years ago, Hee Young Wah suffered a fall from his motorcycle which left him paralysed from the chest down. Today, he lives with a group of similarly disabled friends in a rented house in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.
Hee demonstrates how he moves from his bed to his electric wheelchair. Although he can do many things on his own, he still needs help with some activities such as using the washroom and bathing.
He works with a charity organisation, providing counselling and motivation for other disabled people.
He interacts with them through video calls, reporting back to his organisation if any of them need medical references or aid.
Hee spends every Chinese New Year with his friends in their rented house.
Yeow Leong Hieuin was cognitively impaired after a road accident in Singapore. He can still walk on his own, but one side of his body is weaker than the other. He lost part of his skull due to the accident and is now separated from his wife.
Yeow was once a chef but now sells tissue paper in order to make a living. He has trouble understanding complicated sentences and is easily forgetful.
Yeow always looks forward to Chinese New Year when he gets to eat dinner with his family members who live close by.
The rented house in Kepong is sparsely furnished, which makes it easy for the inhabitants to move around in their wheelchairs.
Cheong Chee Sing, a former consultant, is immobile from his chest down but exercises regularly in his room, monitored by his helper.
He celebrates Chinese New Year with his family in Petaling Jaya but is happy with his independent life.
Cheong (left), Hee (centre) and Yeow (right) enjoy a chat on the front porch amid the Chinese New Year decorations.
Yeow offers Hee some Chinese New Year cookies – a staple in nearly every home this season.
They are good friends and do what they can to help each other through life.
Over in Kampung Tasek Tambahan Ampang, Chong Ban Aun, his wife Dewi and their two children do what they can to mark the occasion although there is very little for them in way of celebration.
Chong and Dewi used to return to his home town in Kampar, Perak, for Chinese New Year every year, but financial constraints have brought an end to their annual journey.
Chong and his daughter, Mei Lai, share a happy moment together despite their humble surroundings.
Dewi straightens the red cheongsam that she and Chong saved to buy for Mei Lai, their daughter.
Their son Jia Quan is happy that he, too, has a new outfit for the occasion, even though his family can no longer make the trip back to Kampar to reunite with his grandparents and cousins.
Jia Quan leans over to kiss his mother as he thanks her for his new clothes.
Dewi does what she can in the kitchen, cooking some vegetables and curry to mark the occasion.
While there is no money for decorations, snacks, or special dishes, they are glad to be able to spend this reunion dinner together.