Teen Reunites With Mother After 16 Years, Seeks Blessing To Further Studies

KULIM, April 26 (Bernama) -- A teenager’s long wait to meet his biological mother ended in an emotional reunion at Kampung Padang Limau, Karangan, near here today.

Muhammad Sihat Abu Bakar, 18, could not hold back his tears upon seeing his mother, Siti Maryah Ahmad, 51, for the first time since they were separated when he was just two years old.

He said as the youngest of five siblings, he was initially raised by his paternal grandmother in Sungai Petani before she passed away when he was six. He was then cared for by his father and stepmother in Pekan, Pahang.

“However, my life has never been easy. For the sake of my future, while preparing for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) last year, I decided to leave home and start living independently to focus on my studies,” he told Bernama.

The teenager said he was grateful for the support from teachers at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tengku Abdullah in Pekan, Pahang, and assistance from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which enabled him to sit for SPM last year.

Muhammad Sihat said to support himself, he worked part-time during school holidays, but his desire to find his mother never faded, especially as he wanted her blessing to further his studies, and several documents from her for that purpose.

Meanwhile, Siti Maryah said she was very happy and relieved to be reunited with her son.

“Before this, I didn’t know where to find him. I have five children, but one has passed away,” she said.

Meanwhile, a representative from the Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), Suhaila Che Ismail, said the reunion was made possible with the help of various parties, particularly Wanita UMNO information chief Datuk Rosni Zahari, Wanita UMNO Padang Serai chief Datuk Marlia Abd Latiff, and Bukit Aman Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) principal assistant director SAC Datuk Mohamad Farouk Eshak.

She said Muhammad Sihat has been selected to participate in the YEF MSIA Intervention Programme 2026, organised by YEF, which is a preparatory programme before entering university.

“Muhammad Sihat aspires to further his studies in Sports Science. We hope his dream of becoming a lecturer will come true one day,” she said.

Suhaila said the YEF MSIA Intervention Programme 2026 is an initiative to empower youth through personal development, character building and skills training.

“We would like to thank everyone involved in the mission to locate Muhammad Sihat’s biological mother and in supporting this young man.

“We hope he will become a role model for B40 youths who strive independently to achieve success in both this world and the hereafter,” she said.

-- BERNAMA