GEORGE TOWN: She turned 100 on April 9, but Liang Mee Lun has not slowed down one bit as she still uses her nimble hands for a good cause.

       The centenarian, who has been paying it forward for decades to aid the disabled community, continues to fold paper flowers in the hope of raising funds for charity.

       To her delight, she managed to get RM260,000 for 10 non-governmental organisations in conjunction with her 100th birthday celebration.

       Daughter Chia Kien Eng, 66, said her siblings had chipped in and raised RM100,000 to make their mother’s 100th birthday more special.

       “When philanthropist Ledand Tan got to know about it, he offered to match my mother’s contribution and donated RM100,000 too.

       “The number did not stop there. Some friends and family members started donating as well and we managed to raise RM260,000,” she said.

       As gratitude to Tan for his generosity towards her charity projects throughout the years, Liang will present him with a vase of 100 paper roses. It will be the biggest bouquet of roses she has ever made.

       Liang is no stranger to fundraising.

       For her 99th birthday, she collected about RM160,000 for BOLD Association for Children with Special Needs in Penang.

       In 2017, she raised RM53,000 for a centre for autistic children.

       Liang attributed her long life to being happy and having a positive outlook in life.

       “I am a simple person and I live from day to day. My children take good care of me and I am always happy.

       “I was happy to see my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as close friends at my 100th birthday celebration which fell on Saturday.

       “I have not seen them for a long time and it was a happy occasion,” said Liang, who has 26 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

       Liang, who is Johor-born, usually crafts intricate paper flowers to pass time when visiting her 11 children who live in Penang, Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Singapore.

       She was a picture of concentration when met at her home here. She was busy cutting petals from crepe paper, folding and shaping them. Then she would put them together using glue and wires.

       Chia, who is a speech and language therapist, said her mother loves to give away her handmade flowers to family and friends.

       She said it had been a daily routine for her mother to make paper flowers since her father’s passing 30 years ago.

       “She would start making paper flowers after breakfast every day. She can make around 10 small flowers, six medium-sized flowers and between three and four big ones in a day, but it all depends on her mood and energy level.

       “My mother is a neat person. And she makes full use of the crepe papers so that they don’t go to waste,” she said.

       Making these paper flowers has given her mother a sense of calmness and peace.

       “It is her hobby and a good way to keep her occupied. It also helps to maintain her cognitive functions,” she added.

       Chia said Liang learnt to make paper flowers when she was 15 while studying at the Nanyang Girls’ High School in Singapore.

       “When the Japanese invaded China in 1937, the Nanyang overseas Chinese were galvanised to support the resistance movement.

       “Together with her friends, my mum learnt to make paper flowers and sold them to raise funds for the cause,” she said.

       Chia said her mother has been in good health.

       “My mother does not have any health complications. She has no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol and no diabetes.

       “She did not complain of any discomfort after getting her Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot.

       “My mother enjoys simple meals and has her double-boiled soup every day besides having bird’s nest drinks three times a week.

       “A physiotherapist will come twice a week to mobilise her muscles and she walks around at home using a walker,” she said.

       Liang usually wakes up at 6.30am every day.

       “She will clean herself up before having breakfast at 8am. My mother is very particular about her grooming routine and she spends between 30 and 45 minutes in the morning and at night on it every day.

       “For breakfast, she will usually have toast with marmalade, fried eggs and a chocolate drink.

       “By 10am, she will start making paper flowers until lunch at 12.30pm. After lunch, she will start making flowers again for half an hour before taking a nap,” she said.

       “She will sometimes continue making flowers after her dinner before ending her day with a glass of Benedictine D.O.M. every night.”