Click, clack, connect: ‘Jom Mahjong’ brings people together

A hospital might seem like the last place you would expect to hear the lively click-clack of mahjong tiles.

Yet just recently, that familiar sound filled the air as Malaysians young and old sat around tables, shuffling tiles, arranging their hands and pondering their next move.

Laughter and friendly chatter abounded as experienced players faced off against newcomers, who were still learning the ins and outs of pongs, chows and kongs.

The session, held in conjunction with World Alzheimer’s Month, was organised by Pantai Hospital and Gray Matter Solutions alongside Jom Mahjong, which bills itself as Malaysia’s first social mahjong club.

Established in April this year, Jom Mahjong aims to bring modern-day Malaysians of all backgrounds together to destress, socialise and make new friends over the centuries-old game.

“I think it’s a great game because it’s very lighthearted and straightforward to learn. Most people can probably pick it up in an hour or so,” Jom Mahjong founder and president Zed Lee, 39, told FMT Lifestyle.

“Many of those who join us say our sessions bring back a lot of memories from when they used to play with their mothers, aunties or other relatives when they were younger.”

Mahjong has been enjoying something of a modern resurgence, with mahjong clubs springing up around the world. It has become particularly popular in the US.

Lee believes several factors have fuelled this renewed interest, including the popularity of the film “Crazy Rich Asians”, which features a memorable mahjong scene, as well as a post-pandemic desire for people to reconnect and socialise in person.

For Lee, the idea for the club struck during a company trip a few years ago, when he found himself playing mahjong with his colleagues.

Despite their differences in age, background and culture, everyone quickly bonded over the game and had a great time. Lee realised then that mahjong could be a simple yet effective way of breaking down social barriers and bringing people together.

As fate would have it, Lee was later gifted an old mahjong table by a relative. Soon he was teaching family members the game, and everyone quickly took to it.

“They taught my other relatives how to play, and sometimes they even play without me!” Lee said with a laugh.

Lee went on to host several mahjong sessions at board game cafés before starting Jom Mahjong. However, fewer than eight people turned up for the first gathering.

Undeterred, he kept the sessions going, and word gradually began to spread. Today, the club hosts between 10 and 12 tables, drawing around 48 players per session. Its largest gathering to date attracted 130 participants.

The club now holds regular gatherings every month, often collaborating with cafés and other venues to bring its social mahjong sessions to different areas. While mahjong may be known as a Chinese game, people of all races and cultures join.

Its members usually play Hong Kong mahjong, one of the most popular variants of the game, although other styles are welcome.

“Beyond the tiles and rules, we want every participant to walk away with a feel for the strategy and a genuine connection to the heart of this tradition and this community we are building together,” Lee said.

While mahjong is sometimes associated with gambling, Lee said “Jom Mahjong” was created specifically so players could exercise their skills at pattern recognition, multitasking and concentration.

For older players in particular, the game is an enjoyable way to keep the mind active and socially engaged, as well as improve cognitive wellbeing.

“It’s a great social game where it’s easy to make friends. I recommend everyone give it a try,” Lee said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert or have never played before, everyone is welcome at the mahjong table.”

Follow Jom Mahjong on Instagram.

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