Hai Peng: 86 years of coffee, community and Merdeka spirit

The shop was founded in 1940 by Wong Sang Hai, who came from Hainan, China. It has long drawn customers from different backgrounds and is now a familiar gathering place in this part of Terengganu.

Today, the business is run by his grandson, 38-year-old Richard Wong, who took over from his aunt in 2014. The shop’s name, Hai Peng, means “seaside” in Chinese – a nod to Chukai’s identity as a coastal town.

Its physical appearance has changed over the decades. The original wooden premises were rebuilt more than 30 years ago, but the location and character of the business have remained much the same. The menu, too, revolves around familiar kopitiam favourites.

Hainanese coffee remains the signature drink, accompanied by breakfast staples such as kaya toast, half-boiled eggs, nasi lemak and traditional kuih. Wong said the business now has 14 employees, all of whom are Malay. During National Month, the everyday sense of togetherness here takes on added meaning.

For regulars, Hai Peng offers a small but enduring picture of the Malaysia they have known for decades – people of different backgrounds sharing the same tables, conversations and routines. Mohamed Rahim Hussin, 67, has been coming to the shop since 1979. He first chose it as a breakfast spot because there were few eateries in town at the time, but its familiar and relaxed atmosphere kept him returning.

“Every time I come here, I see customers from various races sitting at the same table and enjoying their meals together,” he said, adding that he often invites his friends to meet here and catch up. He hopes the shop’s warm and inviting character will be preserved for future generations.

Another customer, Peter Lau, remembers being brought to Hai Peng by his father when he was just five years old. The 64-year-old said their home was nearby, and his father would stop at the coffee shop to meet friends over a cup of coffee.

Decades later, Lau still notices the same easy familiarity among customers. “I am happy to see the friendly atmosphere remaining to this day, with customers greeting and shaking hands with one another regardless of race whenever they meet at the coffee shop,” he said. For A Thevanthiran, 51, the journey is considerably longer.

The Kuantan resident still brings his family to Hai Peng for breakfast despite the distance, saying they enjoy both the food and the welcoming atmosphere. “My family feels comfortable enjoying the food and drinks here,” he said. After more than eight decades, Hai Peng remains part of Chukai’s everyday rhythm – familiar to longtime customers, welcoming to newcomers and, during Merdeka season, a reminder that unity is often built in the simplest of places.

Kedai Kopi Hai Peng

Jalan Sulaimani, Kampung Gong Pauh,