A life of servitude
IN conjunction with the Merdeka Day celebrations next month, ntv7 airs
,aseriesaboutagroupof (literally mother and sister) who work as domestic servants in post-independence Malaya.
The term generally referred to those serving wealthy households in the 19th and 20th centuries. These women formed close bonds and are considered a sisterhood.
Beginning in 1957 China, Lei Yu Hong (Pauline Tan) escapes an arranged marriage with her friend Xue Feng Xian (Loo Aye Keng) and, together with her goddaughter Song Bao Mei (Sherlyn Seo), take on a perilous journey to Malaya.
The trio aspire to start afresh when they arrive on the very day Malaya gains independence from the British.
Along the way they meet various characters such as celibate Liang Shui Yue (Joey Leong), young journalist Chen Hui (Jeffrey Cheng) and coolie foreman Jin Gang (Henley Hii).
Leong and Hii work together for the second time, after seven years ago. But it may be Hii’s last TV series.
“Many things involving my family and personal life happened recently, and I want to take time off,” said the Sabah-born actor and singer, whose mother passed away recently due to an illness. “I hope my fans will understand,” added Hii.
On the other hand, veteran actress Loo didplentyofresearchtoembodyherrole effectively.
The cast, especially the female co-stars, had great chemistry and Loo said: “We called one another sisters in the series and we still refer to one another as sisters even after filming had wrapped up.”
Bubbly actress Tan revealed that she was slapped in the face by co-star Gary Yap for disrespecting him.
Thankfully, it was all part of the show. In one of the pivotal scenes, Tan’s character was seen spitting at Yap, who instinctively raised his hand at her.
“I was stunned at first and didn’t know how to react. But both of us knew it was part of the act. Yap came up to me afterwards and apologised for what he did. He felt very sorry,” she said with a laugh.
These dressed their own hair and took vows of celibacy. They usually underwent a simple but significant ceremony at a temple known as the Sor Hei (combing).
After the ceremony, these women were regarded as independent individuals and their parents could no longer marry them off. Some set up homes, where members of their own could reside.
Most worked in the silk industry but when the industry slumped in the 1930s due to war, many left their homes in China’s Guangdong province for Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaya. Many became domestic servants, serving a certain household for decades.
The airs every Monday to Thursday at 9.30pm on ntv7.