Daughter Found Her Long-Lost Father in Bukit Batok Home for the Aged After Appeal on Facebook

Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.

Christopher Nolan movies may be known for their clever twists, but the British director has nothing on the random series of occurrences we call life. 

As Mark Twain said: “Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn’t.”

Daughter Found Her Long-Lost Father in Bukit Batok Home for the Aged After Appeal on Facebook

Three siblings have finally found their long-lost father after they were separated in Malaysia 20 years ago.

After the man’s youngest daughter made an appeal on Facebook, he was discovered in a home for the aged in Singapore. 

In 2018, 84-year-old Ali Jais was admitted to the Bukit Batok Home for the Aged.

According to The New Paper, the home was unable to contact his family members as Ali had lost contact with them and couldn’t share any information.

It’s unclear how Ali was separated from his children, or how he came to be in Singapore.

But then, the inconceivable happened.

Earlier this month, Ali’s youngest daughter, Khazimah Ali, 37, made an appeal on Facebook for information on her father.

The post included the only photo Khazimah had of her father before they were split up.

Malaysian news outlet Bernama reported the appeal, and news of the incident spread.

Then, one day, the family was contacted with information about their father.

Home Cares For Elderly Who Are Destitute & Have No Support

The home where Ali has been for the last two years provides care and accommodation to elderly who are destitute and have no family support.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) told TNP that Ali was admitted because of his age, lack of accommodation, and health conditions.

Residents at the home are fully funded by the MSF, meaning their food, accommodation, and other daily needs are taken care of.

Fortunately, the 84-year-old is in good health.

Daughter: “Abah Remembers Us”

Though Ali is ageing and has not seen his children in 20 years, he still remembers them.

The MSF spokesman said the home set up a video call between Ali and his eldest daughter, Hasliza Ali, 41.

She confirmed her father was doing well.

In an interview with Bernama, she said the 84-year-old still remembers them.

“According to the home, Abah remembers us,” she said. “It is just that he does not know how to contact us.”

The home will allow Ali to continue living there if the family wishes, or will work with the daughter if they have other living arrangements in mind.

“We are glad to hear about Mr Ali’s reconnection with his children,” the MSF spokesman said.

While no one knows where Ali was for the last two decades prior to his admission to the home, his children believe he has been in Singapore this whole time, but we can’t know for sure.

As I said, truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.

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