PETALING JAYA: Fasting during Ramadan is not only limited to Muslims as some non-Muslims are also trying it out, mainly for health reasons.
Wee Chuan Chin said he first started fasting alongside his Muslim friends during his boarding school days in Cheras.
After a 13-year hiatus, the social media personality, better known as Abe Wee, started to fast again last year.
“It was very tough at first to fast again as I didn’t have the right knowledge, being a non-Muslim.
“But I am a curious person and enjoy learning about other cultures and religions, so it has been interesting for me to complete it every day.
“The abstinence from food is still okay but (abstaining from) water is hard, especially between 4pm and 5pm,” he said in an interview.
Wee, who is known for his Kelantanese dialect and fluency in Malay, expressed admiration for his Muslim friends who fast every year, adding that it is not an easy thing to do.
“I have learned a lot like the fact that older people, pregnant women and young children are exempted from fasting if they are unable to do so,” he said.
Wee also said he enjoys visiting the Ramadan bazaars featuring an array of delicacies.
Influencer and food vlogger Ceddy Ang, who has many Muslim social media followers, is another non-Muslim who is fasting during Ramadan.
He regularly posts videos of his sahur and iftar meals while reminding people to be mindful of those who are facing famine in besieged Palestine.
“It started with my followers who kept asking me to try it out since the majority of them are Muslims.
“Honestly, I am very blessed because my followers were kind enough to share their methods to make it through the fasting hours, so I was already well equipped when I started,” said Ang, who is fasting for the second time this year.
When asked about his experience, Ang admitted that he would have some cravings occasionally, but this added to the beauty of fasting by learning to resist temptations.
“I have learned to be more grateful, especially when there are many people in different parts of the world who aren’t even able to get proper meals,” he said.
Soul singer Elvira Arul felt that fasting is good for health as “it helps to reset your body, mind and soul”.
“The body is also given some rest,” she said.
The voice coach also said fasting teaches one to be grateful since at other times, “we are able to eat what we want and when we want, something that could be a luxury for those with no such options”.
