PETALING JAYA: A 70-year-old non-Muslim man won the hearts of netizens when he joined his friends who were about to paint the parking lots in the vicinity of a mosque in Kelantan.

       Fondly known as Ah Meng among his friends, Liu Yao Ming was passing the mosque on his motorcycle when he bumped into his Malay friends who were getting ready to paint the parking lot.

       Without thinking twice, he decided to join them.

       Online users sang his praises when a photo of him painting the parking lot at Masjid Al-Jauhar, located near the Kuala Krai-Gua Musang road, was shared in a Facebook group.

       The village head, Wan Hafiz, said Liu was a role model for all and the incident was a true reflection of the Kelantanese way of different ethnicities living together in harmony under one roof, reported mySinchew, Sin Chew Daily’s English portal.

       Che Abdullah, owner of a local coffee shop which Liu frequents, said he was known among the local Malay community for being helpful and friendly.

       Liu said that he made a lot of Malay friends due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       “I frequent coffee shops run by Malays now as many Chinese prefer to stay at home. About 80% of my friends now are Malays,” said the plumber who hails from Kuala Krai, but lives in Guchil.

       The village’s Chinese head, Luo Yue Qing, said Liu, who is single, was also the guardian of the two daughters of his deceased friend.

       Luo added that Liu sent the girls to school and had been helping their Thai mother since the passing of his friend in 2014.

       The girls’ mother is not a Malaysian citizen.

       He added that Liu was unable to qualify for the monthly RM100 welfare aid for senior citizens due to his capacity as the guardian of the girls.

       Luo said Liu could apply once the youngest girl, who is almost 16 now, turns 18.