#SHOWBIZ: Elvin Ng reunites with 'best alarm clock' Indonesian helper after 12 years

Singaporean actor Elvin Ng and his mother Linda Chew recently made a surprise trip to Indonesia to reunite with their former housemaid Jumiyati, or Jumi. The 45-year-old actor and his mum had not seen Jumi in 12 years. The reunion was captured in an episode of CNA's On The Red Dot, broadcasted on August 24.

Jumi, 42, had moved to Singapore six years ago from Depok City to work for Elvin's family. She served them from 2008 to 2014. Elvin described Jumi as his close-knit companion, the closest in age to him and his siblings, and the one who helped him wake up each morning as he was not an early riser. Jumi was affectionately called the best alarm clock by Elvin.

Despite the glamorous lifestyle, Elvin revealed that Jumi worked long 12-hour days, often extending to midnight, while filming schedules ran from 7 am to 7 pm. He would return home to shower, eat, rehearse his lines, and sleep for five hours before reporting back to work.

Jumi returned to Indonesia in 2014 to live her life. While they maintained contact with Elvin's mother Linda Chew, their communication tapered off over time. For Jumi's surprise gift, Elvin and his mother prepared pineapple tarts, a dish Jumi had learned to make from Chew. Jumi expressed her joy with tears, asking Linda if she was healthy. Linda confirmed she was.

Linda shared that she used to walk with Jumi from the canal in front of their home to Chinese Garden, a practice that began a few months after their father's death in 2012. Elvin, the eldest of three siblings, dealt with his father's death privately for four months. He acknowledged Jumi's quiet support during this difficult period. In a remembrance of his late father, Jumi cooked prawn mee, a dish her father had taught her.