MELAKA: For longtime Duyong resident Aunty Elen, decades of friendship with neighbours of different races have grown into close bonds built on shared experiences, trust and mutual support.
Duyong assemblyman Mohd Noor Helmy shared her story in a video posted on social media.
In the video, Aunty Elen recalls fond memories with her friends, from sharing meals and secrets to making up after disagreements.
"I have been here for a long time. I moved here when I got married 50 years ago," she said, recounting her years in the area.
She spoke warmly of the close ties she shared with her friends, who stood by one another through the ups and downs of everyday life.
"We can argue, but after that, we make up. Sometimes she cries for me, and I cry for her," she said.
Noor Helmy said he had known Aunty Elen as a longtime resident in his constituency and had visited her home after a flood to help resolve a drainage issue.
He added that he often saw her spending time with other residents whenever he visited the area.
He said he shared her story as an example of the close bonds that could develop between people of different races.
"Today, we acknowledge that Malays, Chinese and Indians have no problem being friends. But a deeper bond, a friendship like that between siblings, is something we rarely see," he said.
He said community ties could be strengthened through neighbourhood interactions, business dealings and shared interests.
Neighbours, he added, were often among the first to offer help when someone faced difficulties.
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