Heartwarming Story: Elderly Woman from Batang Returns Home After Being Missing in Malaysia for 31 Years
A heartwarming scene unfolded in Adinuso Village, Reban District, Batang Regency, Central Java, as a travel vehicle arrived, bringing Gim Suyati (73) home. The elderly woman finally reunited with her family after being declared missing in Malaysia for 31 years.
Gim Suyati’s return on Friday (May 15, 2026) was met with tears of joy from her children, relatives, and neighbors, who had long presumed she was no longer alive. The woman, who had migrated to Malaysia in 1995, was able to return home thanks to the assistance of Yoyok Riyo Sudibyo, a member of Commission VII of the Indonesian Parliament.
Gim Suyati’s second child, Anto (52), expressed his deep gratitude. For over three decades, the family had only been able to pray, not knowing the whereabouts of their mother.
“It feels like a dream. We haven’t known where our mother was for 31 years. I am just grateful that she can finally return and reunite with the family,” said Anto, holding back tears.
Anto admitted that the process of bringing his mother home was very difficult due to administrative obstacles. Gim Suyati’s citizenship status was initially not recognized, which kept her stranded for many years, even though she had repeatedly visited the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia.
According to Anto, Yoyok Riyo Sudibyo’s assistance was crucial. “Thanks to Mr. Yoyok’s call to the embassy, all of my mother’s Indonesian citizen documents were completed within three days. Previously, she had tried many times, but it was not successful,” he said.
Gim Suyati, who is now more fluent in Malay, seemed to have difficulty communicating in Indonesian. With tears in her eyes, she recounted her struggles to survive by doing odd jobs in Malaysia while continuing to seek a way home.
“I feel very happy, very joyful. I don’t know how to express it,” said Gim softly. Although she has lived in Malaysia for 31 years, she insists that her hometown in Batang is the place she misses the most.
Yoyok Riyo Sudibyo, who is also a former Regent of Batang, stated that Gim Suyati’s case is just the tip of the iceberg of the complex problems faced by Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) in Malaysia. Many citizens leave unofficially, leading to documentation problems later on.
“This is simply a matter of humanity and empathy. The problems in Malaysia are indeed very complex. Today, I received news that there is still one resident of Adinuso Village named Darno who has been missing for 32 years,” said Yoyok.
Yoyok added that he often receives photos and videos from PMI who are experiencing similar problems abroad. He promised to continue using his position to help Indonesians who are stranded in foreign countries.
“As long as I am in office, I will help as much as I can. Because there are indeed many similar cases that need to be addressed,” he concluded. (H-3)
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