Penang Man’s Daily Love Ritual Moves the Nation

Penang Man’s Daily Love Ritual Moves the Nation

A Love Story That Defies Time

On the hills of Penang, where the mist still clings to the trees at dawn, a remarkable story of love unfolds each morning.

Loo Khai Oon, at 65, embarks on his daily journey to the United Hokkien Cemeteries in Paya Terubong — a 15km trek he’s completed nearly three thousand times. His mission: to say good morning to the woman who held his heart for more than three decades.

A Devotion That Began With a Christmas Promise

Their love began when he was 22 and she was 18. They married on Christmas Day 1988, a celebration that marked the start of a journey that would span more than three decades. Life, however, delivered a cruel twist of fate when leukaemia claimed her life on another Christmas Day, leaving Loo to carry on her memory.

“I miss her a lot. I wish I could talk to her,” he shares, his eyes filled with memories.

But instead of letting grief consume him, he turned it into a daily pilgrimage of devotion. Every morning, rain or shine, he carries a small portable speaker playing her favourite morning prayers, gardening tools to tend her resting place, and a tumbler of her favourite coffee — a simple yet profound act of keeping their breakfast ritual alive.

Where Others Moved On, He Stayed True

Even nine years later, when so many have moved on, Loo remains steadfast. He tends to her grave, trims the grass, and wipes the tombstone.

“Time doesn’t wait for anyone. If your partner is gone, you’ll regret it. Cherish the time you have,” he says, a reminder that love’s moments are precious.

A Tattoo Over His Heart

His commitment isn’t only in his steps. Loo has his wife’s portrait tattooed over his heart, ensuring she remains close even when he’s not at the cemetery.

“No one understood me like she did,” he reflects, his hand instinctively resting over the tattoo that keeps her near.

After his morning visit, he heads to the gym and then home, though sometimes he’s drawn back for a second visit — jogging the distance if Malaysia’s tropical weather allows.

“I feel uneasy if I don’t see her at least once a day,” he admits.

An Inspiration to Many

In a world that often treats love as fleeting, Loo’s unwavering devotion stands as a beacon of hope. First capturing attention in 2022, his story has inspired countless others who have glimpsed him during his morning rituals.

Where others might let their grief fade into occasional visits, Loo’s love remains as fresh as the dew he brings to her grave each day.

His story reminds us that true love isn’t defined by grand gestures but by the quiet, persistent acts of devotion — the unwavering refusal to stop saying good morning, even in death.

Source : Facebook

 By Tarziman — 03 June 2025, 02:05 PM