Datuk

Lai Meng

AMN
Photo of Lai Meng
Born
Lai Kwai Yoon

(1928-09-29)29 September 1928
Benut, Johor, Malaysia
Died6 May 2018(2018-05-06) (aged 89)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
NationalityMalaysian
Other namesAunty Lai Meng
Occupationactress
Years active1952-2018
Notable workEmpat Sekawan, Money No Enough 2
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese黎明
Simplified Chinese黎明
Lai Kwai Yoon
Traditional Chinese黎桂潤
Simplified Chinese黎桂润

Datuk Lai Kwai Yoon (simplified Chinese: 黎桂润; traditional Chinese: 黎桂潤; pinyin: Lí Guìrùn; Jyutping: Lai4 Gwai3 Jeon6; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lê Kùi-jūn; 29 September 1928 - 6 May 2018), known professionally as Lai Meng (Chinese: 黎明; pinyin: Lí Míng; Jyutping: Lai4 Ming4; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lê Bêng), was a Malaysian actress. She appeared in many Malaysian and Singaporean films and TV shows, notably Empat Sekawan, Ah Long Pte Ltd, Money No Enough 2, Taxi! Taxi! and Supermum.

Early life

Lai was born in Benut, Pontian District, Johor, Malaysia on 29 September 1928, her full name was Lai Kwai Yoon.[1][lower-alpha 1] With a passion for singing, Lai joined Malacca Meng Seng Charitable Association's choir and occasionally held performances with the choir.[4] After catching a performance of Lai by chance, an established singer, Hoi Yong struck a friendship with her and would later spark her interest in becoming a singer later on.[4] However due to Lai's godfather's prior experiences while working in gambling dens, he dissuaded Lai from becoming one until when she was 21 in 1949.[4]

Career

In 1949, Lai started performing on stage in Kuala Lumpur as a getai singer with the stage name, Lai Meng.[1] She soon struck close friendships and would usually perform with Hon Ying, Hoi Yong and Wong Hor.[5][6] In 1952, the four decided to join a radio station and started broadcasting a radio show, Empat Sekawan, a comedy skit with dialogue in various Chinese dialects intermingled with Malay.[6] Due to the radio show, the four went on to cast in a movie, You Qiu Bi Ying (有求必应) in 1964. Similarly, the multi-dialect laden movie was well received in Malaysia's box office.[7] The radio show was so well received that it evolved into a television show which was broadcast on a Radio Televisyen Malaysia's television channel in 1966.[5] However due to governmental pressure in promoting Mandarin Chinese in Malaysia and the increasing popularity of Hong Kong and Taiwanese television shows within the nation, Empat Sekawan ended broadcast in 1988.[8]

After Empat Sekawan ended and although Lai had lost her job, as the local entertainment industry in Malaysia and Singapore was maturing, she soon joined a movie production company despite her advanced age and knowing that she would not be able to get lead roles anymore.[8] However, the production company also went bankrupt soon after. Due to her husband's illness, Lai took up a sales role to support her family until 2006.[8] Her husband died in 2006.[2]

In 2008, Jack Neo decided to cast Lai in Ah Long Pte Ltd, and attested to her professionalism as an actress.[9] Lai soon accepted roles in the next Jack Neo movie being Money No Enough 2.[8] Her acting did not go unnoticed and was recognised when she was nominated for Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actress for portraying an Alzheimer's-ridden mother Money No Enough 2 in 2008.[10] In 2013, Lai also starred in Singaporean movie Taxi! Taxi!.[11]

Retirement and later life

Lai had a fall in 2016, requiring her to use a wheelchair.[12] She then took a break from acting.[12] Subsequently in 2017, Lai announced her retirement with a 89th birthday gala dinner that was well attended by other artistes and friends from the entertainment industry, saying that even though she didn't earn much over the years, she had no regrets.[13]

Lai Meng passed away on 6 May 2018, at the age of 89 of stroke.[10][14] She was interred at the living tomb that was given to her in 2013 at the Nirvana Memorial Garden in Semenyih, Selangor.[2][15]

Before Lai died, she wanted to act one last time for her fans. Her godson, Bjarne Wong decided to honour her wish by directing Supermum,[16] which warm and joyful story-line was influenced by her optimistic personality.[17] However before her scenes could be filmed, her health debilitated with a stroke.[17] Instead, Eliza Wong, a Malaysian actress who called Lai her godmother, played Lai's role of the matriarch,[18] and recorded messages from Lai were included throughout the movie.[17] The movie was released on 30 May 2019, during the time of the year which usually occupied by summer blockbusters. This was done in conjunction with Parents' Day in Malaysia, and as well as a celebration of her first death anniversary.[18]

Filmography

Films
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1964 有求必应 [6]
2008 Ah Long Pte Ltd Lihua's Mother [19]
Money No Enough 2 Mrs. Yang Nominated for Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actress [20][10]
2009 Where Got Ghost? [21]
Love Matters [21]
The Wedding Game
2012 Dance Dance Dragon Mother Long [22][23]
The Golden Couple

金童玉女

 Supporting role [24][25]
2013 Taxi! Taxi! [11]
2019 Supermum Posthumous release; credited as an executive producer [26]
Radio shows
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1952 客人卖女儿 [4]
1952 - 1966 Empat Sekawan

四喜临门

 [6]
Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1966 - 1988 Empat Sekawan

四喜临门

 [5]
1987 提防小手 [27][28]
1988 城市妙人 [29][30]

Awards and honours

In 1978, Lai was awarded the Ahli Mangku Negara by Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia of the time, Sultan Yahya Petra.[10]

In 2008, Lai was nominated for Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actress for portraying an Alzheimer's-ridden mother Money No Enough 2 in 2008.[10]

In 2013, Lai was awarded the title of ‘Datuk’ by the Sultan of Pahang.[10]

In 2017, Lai received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Malaysia Golden Global Awards for her various contributions to the Malaysian Chinese film industry.[31]

Notes

  1. ↑ Her date of birth on Chinese lunisolar calendar, as on her tomb, is 16 of 8th lunar month of 1928, which would make her date of birth on the Gregorian calendar as 29 September 1928.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 "黎明姨安詳離世 享年90歲". 光明日报 Guang Ming Daily. 7 May 2018. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "A cemetery house-warming for Lai Meng". The Star Online. 41-46 seconds.
  3. ↑ "Gregorian-Lunar Calendar Conversion Table of 1928 (Wu-chen – year of the Dragon)" (PDF). Hong Kong Observatory.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "意喻破晓 曙光初现‧从黎桂润到黎明". www.sinchew.com.my. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Everlasting charm of classic multi-dialect show, Empat Sekawan | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "韩英 常青树重视情谊". asiasuccess. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  7. ↑ 許維賢 (26 April 2018). 華語電影在後馬來西亞：土腔風格、華夷風與作者論 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 聯經出版事業公司. p. 38. ISBN 978-957-08-5098-7.
  8. 1 2 3 4 张晓鹏, 文 /; 林明文; 钟雁龄 (8 May 2018). "马国资深艺人黎明病逝 安葬富贵山庄 17万打造"黎明苑"". 早报 (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  9. ↑ "梁志强：黎明姨很敬业 程旭辉：背台词不如她|中国报". 柔佛人 - 中国报 Johor China Press. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Veteran actress Datuk Lai Meng passes away aged 90". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Dr Jia Jia wants to be MP in future". www.asiaone.com. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Legendary Malaysian actress Lai Meng to retire". Free Malaysia Today. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  13. ↑ "Actress Lai Meng calls it a day | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  14. ↑ YAN, SETO KIT. "'Empat Sekawan' star Lai Meng dies at 90". The Star. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  15. ↑ Veteran actress Datuk Lai Meng laid to rest, retrieved 15 February 2020
  16. ↑ "《妈妈好》完成黎明心愿 王凯旋： 5月上映意义非凡 | 娱乐". 東方網 馬來西亞東方日報 (in Simplified Chinese). 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 Tofu (6 May 2019). "《妈妈好》黎明姨告别电影作 530双亲节感动上线". One FM. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Late actress Lai Meng's final film 'Supermum' is a 'parting gift' to her fans | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "老师嫁老大演员表_电影演员表_银河演员网". www.8fkd.com. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  20. ↑ "钱不夠用2 Money No Enough II". Archived from the original on 10 November 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  21. 1 2 III, Harris M. Lentz (24 May 2019). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. McFarland. p. 209. ISBN 978-1-4766-7033-1.
  22. ↑ "《钱不够用2》阿母黎明离世 银幕儿子齐哀悼". www.8world.com. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  23. ↑ "龙众舞 (豆瓣)". movie.douban.com. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  24. ↑ Chew Wan Ying (14 December 2012). "Aniu shows S'pore actress how to kiss Taiwan hunk". www.asiaone.com. The Daily Chilli. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  25. ↑ 《金童玉女》The Golden Couple Official Trailer 2012. Event occurs at 151 seconds. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  26. ↑ "关于电影 – 《妈妈好》电影". Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  27. ↑ "大马演员黎明陈迹 参加《提防小手》演出". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  28. ↑ "《提防小手》招待会众演员来自"破裂"家庭". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  29. ↑ 马来西亚HVD《城市妙人》主题曲+部分片段, retrieved 16 February 2020
  30. ↑ "郑锦昌追思会 多位艺人出席悼念 | 娱乐". 東方網 馬來西亞東方日報 (in Simplified Chinese). December 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  31. ↑ ""Singing in Graveyards" wins Best Film at inaugural MGGA". sg.style.yahoo.com. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
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