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Elvin Ng & mother have emotional reunion with former helper in Indonesia after 12 years
Jumi worked for the family for six years and supported them through a difficult period after Ng’s father died.
August 24, 2026, 05:20 PM
Top images via Elvin Ng/Instagram
Local actor Elvin Ng and his mother travelled to Indonesia to reunite with their former domestic helper, Jumiyati, 12 years after she returned to Indonesia.
The reunion took place as part of CNA's programme “On The Red Dot: Finding,” which follows local personalities as they reunite with people who have made an impact on their lives.
Ng and his mother appeared in the second episode of the six-part series, which aired on Aug. 22.
Lost contact after Jumi returned to Indonesia
Jumiyati—or Jumi, as the family calls her—is now 42.
She worked for Ng's family for six years before returning to Indonesia in 2014.
Ng's mother initially kept in touch with her, but they gradually lost contact.
Ng and his mother travelled to Depok, Indonesia, in hopes of finding her.
Ahead of the reunion, Ng wrote on Instagram that 12 years had passed in the blink of an eye.
“Managed to coerce the mum for a maiden appearance on TV for a special mission. It's been 12 years, and a short-like-alarm-clock but sweet-like-pineapple-tart surprise, hopefully,” Ng wrote on Instagram.
Like a younger sister to Ng
Ng shared on the programme that he had a close relationship with Jumi and regarded her as a younger sister, while his mother treated her like a daughter.
Jumi also played a memorable role in Ng's morning routine.
As Ng was not much of a morning person, Jumi would often knock on his door to wake him up for work, earning her the title of his "best alarm clock”.
Pineapple tarts were another reminder of their time together.
Ng, who enjoys the snack, recalled that Jumi’s pineapple tarts were well received among Ng’s colleagues as well.
This time around, Ng and his mother personally made pineapple tarts for Jumi.
Surprised Jumi with pineapple tarts
To keep the reunion a surprise, the programme's production team delivered the pineapple tarts to Jumi before Ng and his mother appeared.
Jumi had apparently been under the impression that the crew was filming a programme about former domestic helpers who had worked in Singapore.
Upon seeing a card accompanying the pineapple tarts, Jumi became emotional while eating them.
She told the production team that she missed Ng and his mother.
Ng and his mother then appeared before her, prompting an emotional Jumi to embrace them both.
Supported family after Ng's father died
Jumi's relationship with the family went beyond her household duties.
Ng's father died from a heart condition in 2012, during the period when Jumi was working for the family.
Ng shared that Jumi quietly supported the family through the difficult period.
As Ng had to return to work, Jumi remained at home with his mother and kept her company.
The pair would take walks together from the family's former home in western Singapore to Chinese Garden.
“I think she helped the family tide over that period in a very silent and quiet way,” Ng said, adding that her actions allowed him to return to work knowing his mother had someone by her side.
Kept Ng's gift and family recipes for years
During their reunion, Jumi revealed that she had kept several mementos from her years with the Ng family.
Among them was a branded wallet that Ng had given her, as well as recipes she had written down while working for the family.
Ng was moved by the discovery and admitted that he could no longer remember giving her the wallet.
“I didn’t know that we held such an important place in her heart,” Ng said.
Ng also brought Jumi and her children on a trip to Jakarta during their time in Indonesia, fulfilling one of Jumi's wishes.
