Singaporean actor Elvin Ng and his mother, Linda Chew, recently shared an emotional and heartwarming reunion with their former domestic helper, Jumiyati, in Indonesia after being apart for 12 years. The poignant gathering was featured in the CNA series “On The Red Dot”, shedding light on a remarkable bond that transcended standard employer-employee dynamics.
Ng played Chen Dong Hao in “Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story”, a series that first aired on Netflix and mewatch Prime on March 10, 2025. He turned 45 on December 23, 2025.
Elvin Ng
Affectionately known as Jumi, Jumiyati worked for Ng’s family for six years from 2008 to 2014. During his early years in the entertainment industry, which included grueling 12-hour workdays following his breakout role, she served as his dependable morning alarm clock, regularly knocking on his door to wake him up. Beyond handling household chores, she became a comforting, steady presence for the family during a deeply challenging time.
In 2012, Ng’s father passed away following a major health battle and subsequent surgery. While he had to swiftly return to his demanding filming schedule, Jumi stayed behind to care for and keep his mother company. He noted that Jumi helped the household quietly weather the grief, granting him the peace of mind needed to focus on his career while knowing his mother was well looked after.
When Jumi returned to Indonesia in 2014 to pursue her own path, she initially stayed in touch before communication gradually quieted down over the years. Determined to reconnect and surprise her, Ng and his mother traveled to Depok City, West Java, Indonesia bringing a thoughtful homemade gift of pineapple tarts—a popular snack Jumi had previously learned to make alongside Chew.
Upon realizing the surprise, Jumi broke down in tears of joy and embraced them tightly. During the visit, she touched the actor and his mother deeply by revealing cherished keepsakes she had preserved, including a branded wallet gifted by him and notebooks containing local Singaporean recipes for chicken rice and prawn mee. To honor fond memories of his late father, Jumi even prepared a comforting bowl of prawn mee—a dish his father had taught her to cook.
The short trip concluded with a memorable family outing to Jakarta, Indonesia serving as a touching reminder that true relationships are measured not by the passage of time, but by enduring closeness and mutual care.
From Singapore to Depok City
Singapore and Depok City offer a compelling study in Southeast Asian urban contrasts. While Singapore operates as an advanced island city-state driven by strict, futuristic planning, Depok City serves as a densely populated satellite city bordering Jakarta to the north and Bogor Regency to the south.
Historically rooted in the colonial-era estate of Cornelis Chastelein, modern Depok is best known as an academic anchor, housing the expansive University of Indonesia. However, rather than being a green oasis, the university’s forested conservation grounds stand as an isolated sanctuary amid Depok’s otherwise intensely urbanized, congested commercial corridors and residential sprawl.
While Singapore remains Indonesia’s leading foreign investor at the national level—funneling capital into major industrial zones and national infrastructure—linking those macroeconomic flows directly to Depok’s local economy overstates the city’s localized development drivers. Instead, Depok thrives primarily as a bustling commuter and educational hub fueled by domestic mobility within the Greater Jakarta region.
CONAN Daily 