Just like durian flesh neatly packed within its thorny husk, the friendship of three men from different races has remained strong, with the “king of fruits” not only serving as their livelihood but also as a symbol of unity.

About a decade ago, Nasir Majnun, 43, Chew Pei Chuan, 42, and S Lognathan, 35, worked together as car repossessors before each tried running their own durian stalls in separate locations.