KUALA LUMPUR: The late Yasmin Ahmad's well-known advertisement for National Day, Hong Ming & Ummi was a hit with Malaysians when it was screened back in 2007.
And now, 15 years later, the primary school best friends who starred in it, Tan Hong Ming and Ummi Khazriena Sakhrudin are back in a special reunion film that marks the country's 65th Merdeka.
Hong Ming and Ummi were seven-year-olds back then, attending the same primary school in Taman Tun Dr Ismail here.
They are now 22, and were were reunited in a short film produced by Lokalteez and directed by veteran journalist and scriptwriter Roslen Fadzil.
In the eight-minute short, Hong Ming and Ummi Khazriena talked about their friendship as well as how Yasmin changed their lives.
The duo also expressed their views on the meaning of Merdeka and how they felt about Malaysia's multi-cultural heritage.
Hong Ming said: "We met up few years ago, and since then we have kept in touch. I'm studying psychology at a private university in Subang Jaya."
Ummi Khazriena said: "I worked as an air stewardess, and also pursued a theatre course at the National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy. I'm now an executive in a building management company."
Hong Ming described Yasmin as a gem of a Malaysian and a loving mother to all.
"She may be gone but her legacy will live on. Kak Yasmin is one in a million and I will always be grateful to her for sharing her message of Bangsa Malaysia and making me a star of sorts," he said.
Ummi Khazriena said: "Kak Yasmin was full of love, and we both had a great time with her. Her films and advertisements truly capture the spirit of Malaysia and the beauty of our multi-cultural nation."
Both Hong Ming and Ummi Khazriena will be celebrating Merdeka by visiting Bukit Bintang and Dataran Merdeka with their friends and loved ones. They both described National Day and Malaysia Day as their favourite times of the year.
"We went through hard times with the pandemic but we re-emerged more united and stronger. Best of all, we kept in touch and our friendship remains," said Ummi Khazriena.
"Differences make us special, that is the spirit of our wonderful country Malaysia!" said Hong Ming.
The short film featuring Tan Hong Ming and Ummi Khazriena Sakhrudin