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  A 'marriage contract renewal' ceremony. (Photo courtesy: Guang Ming Daily)

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  A 'marriage contract renewal' ceremony. (Photo courtesy: Guang Ming Daily)

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PULAU PINANG: An elder couple held a “marriage contract renewal” ceremony during their golden marriage anniversary celebration. Once again, they made a wedding vow in front of their family and friends.

Bridegroom, Kuang Fuwei, 81, and his 77-year-old wife Mai Moli got married on 2 Jan 1960 and 50 years later, once again they invited the priest to host the “marriage contract renewal” ceremony for them.

The couple was accompanied by nine elder bride's pages, showing that their marriage was able to withstand the challenge of time. Their daughters also returned from the United States and Singapore to attend their golden marriage anniversary celebration.

Kuang met Mai at a charity dinner 50 years ago and he was attracted by her vigorous personality. At that time, he was just graduated from the Department of Economics of Hong Kong University and worked as a teacher. They got married a few years later.

“She enriches my life and brings a lot of fun. I'm an introvert who only likes to read, but Moli is vigorous. She has a lot of friends and is always busy with activities. She brought me to join many charity activities,” said Kuang.

Today, Kuang was a retired principal. He used to teach in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bukit Mertajam, Saint Joseph Secondary School in Johor and Chio Min Secondary School in Kedah. He was also an English teacher for former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Badawi.

“Abdullah was my student and he was the monitor. Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim entered the school later but I never taught him before.”

Mai used to have a boutique in Penang and it was well-known in 1960s. Even Hollywood stars purchased Nyonya clothes from her.

However, when Kuang was assigned to teach in Johor, she decided to end her business and went to Johor with her husband. They returned to Penang after Kuang retired in 1982.

Over the past 20 years, both of them were active in various kinds of charity work, including helping orphans, poor families and preserving animal rights. Mai was awarded the PJK title last year for her contributions to the community. (Translated by YOU HSUEH LIN/ Guang Ming Daily)