While Daniel Cheang is looking forward to Ramadan, he admits the holy month will carry a very different vibe this year, as it begins on the third day of Chinese New Year.
The Astro Gempak host is a Chinese Muslim.
“Chinese New Year and Ramadan overlap this year. That means on the third day of Chinese New Year, I’ll already have to start puasa – and I’ll be missing out on all the festive feasts,” the 30-year-old says with a smile.
“It’s sad, but it’s OK, because this is the month to up our pahala by multiple.”
The Penang-born Cheang shares that his family usually visits the Ramadan bazaar to pick up a variety of dishes, which they enjoy together at home for iftar.
“On other days, my mum and my Chinese aunts would prepare the food for breaking fast.
“But since I’m now based in Kuala Lumpur and my family is in Penang, these days it’s usually just me and my sister,” he says.
Still, family remains central to his Ramadan experience.
“My mum will come down once in a while during Ramadan to cook meals and spend some time with us.”
One of Cheang’s most memorable fasting experiences, he recalls, was attending a camp with boys his age from different secondary schools and breaking fast together outdoors.
“Breaking fast with different people, far away from home and away from family, teaches you a lot,” he reflects.
This Ramadan, he is hosting the programme Surau Hunting available on Astro Oasis (Ch 106). The prgoramme has him checking out some of the most beautiful surau around Klang Valley.
