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Have you heard? The Terengganu government is developing a dating app to help singles in the state who are looking for love. This free app called Jodoh Darul Iman is said to be only be available to those above 21 who reside within the state and are seriously looking for a committed relationship.
On paper, Jodoh Darul Iman sounds like a great idea - bringing a more halal approach to dating. But let’s be real, are we really supposed to believe that people in Terengganu will be finding matches while swiping through profiles as they sip their hot tea and munch on keropok lekor in the late afternoons between Asar and Maghrib prayers?
Call me skeptical, but it feels like this app might have a hidden agenda, perhaps to secure future support for the state’s ideology. No? Just me?
Anyway, as Terengganu continues to develop this “noble” mission, it got me thinking, should Penang too consider hopping on the same trend? After all, we’ve got plenty of singles looking for love (ahem, myself included).
But here’s the real question, what would be the core objective of this Penang dating app, who would it include and what would it be called? One thing is certain, Penang’s dating app should be nothing short of legendary. In fact, it should put Jodoh Darul Iman to shame.
The dating app Malaysia actually deserves
While Terengganu calls its dating app Jodoh Darul Iman (a bit dull, don’t you think?), I propose Penang’s dating app be called Ooh Chiak! Why? Well, simply because in Penang, food is our love language.
We Penangites are famously obsessed with all things delicious and irresistible. So why not translate that obsession into romance? After all, nothing says love in Penang like sharing a steaming plate of Char Koay Teow or a crispy fried oyster omelette.
Penang’s Ooh Chiak! dating app should feature a series of compatibility tests where users will be matched based on their food preference. Users will be tested whether they prefer their nasi lemak sambal sweet or spicy, their mee goreng with or without sotong, or if they like their roti canai with telur goyang or kuah tsunami.
Compatibility, after all, is more than just shared hobbies, music taste and political views. It’s about how well you can survive sharing a good plate of food, together. And if you can say Ooh Chiak! after a meal, that’s practically true love Penang-style.
A melting pot of love
But of course, Penangites have very high standards, hence this will not be your typical swipe-right-for-a-date app where you just browse through profiles and pick the hottest candidates. Nope. In Penang, dates are serious business. So, before you swipe right for “Prawn Noodles” or left for “Assam Laksa”, there will be mandatory food reviews that you must complete – because nothing screams commitment like arguing over which hawker stall has the most authentic chendol or pasembor.
Only the brave will survive the food fights that await. After all, in Penang, it’s not about love at first sight – it’s about love at first bite. If you can’t argue over food, you’re not my soulmate. Sorry.
The app should also feature a “Relatives Algorithm,” which matches you based on how much your extended family might judge your relationship. This algorithm would measure how many nosy aunties you have and how long it takes for them to start giving unsolicited advice about your love life. It would also measure how open your family is to mixed marriages – because in Penang, we see people as individuals, not their race and religion.
Unlike Jodoh Darul Iman, limited to Terengganu residents, Ooh Chiak! should be an inclusive app that unites everyone with a sweet spot for Penang.
In Penang, diversity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a way of life. Here, different cultures don’t just coexist; we blend, share, and celebrate together. Ooh Chiak! wouldn’t just match users based on similar food preferences, but it welcomes anyone who appreciates Penang’s rich, diverse culture.
Whether you’re a Penangite born and bred, a visitor fond of our hawker food, or someone from abroad who’s fallen for the charm of our island, our dating app would welcome all, just like the heart of Penang does.
In Penang, love isn’t about where you come from, it’s about celebrating where you’re at, together. If you can laugh while debating the best tau sar pneah over a glass of ais tingkap, you’re already halfway to true love.
While Terengganu is busy developing Jodoh Darul Iman to match people based on religion and cultural values, Penang should refine its dating app to ensure that your soulmate isn’t just someone you can pray with - they’re someone who won’t judge you for ordering extra crispy pork belly, even if they refrain from pork for religious reasons. Because that, my friends, is how you find your soulmate.
So, what do you think? Doesn’t that sound like a dating app Malaysia actually deserves? Well, at least it’s way more exciting than the cringe-worthy Jodoh Darul Iman. Pft.
Fa Abdul is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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