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It was an emotional and memorable day for both of them yesterday, as the retired policeman and the boy finally got to reconnect.
This was made possible after a news report by Bernama about 67-year-old Umar Kamarudin’s hope to meet the boy went viral yesterday.
Umar, who retired from the police force as a superintendent in Bukit Aman, said he had made several attempts, including using social media, to locate the boy but failed.
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Kwek, now aged 26 and residing in Tokyo, Japan, said he had never thought that he would be able to reconnect with Umar, whom he referred to as “Uncle Umar”, after nearly two decades.
He said he was surprised when he received several phone calls from acquaintances informing him about the news report.
“My phone kept ringing yesterday. I got calls from so many people asking me what was going on as my name was in the news.
“They even shared the Facebook link. I thought it was a scam at first.
“I then called my mum and told her about the news. As I kept reading the comments section (on Facebook), many users tagged my name. I was so excited.
“One particular user wrote: ‘That is my father (Umar’s son)’. We got in touch via Facebook and exchanged phone numbers.”
Kwek said that soon after that, he was able to contact Umar via WhatsApp and talk to the man who saved him from drowning.
During their telephone conversation, they promised to meet when Kwek returns to Malaysia.
“I just got back (to Japan) from Malaysia last March and would be returning maybe next year. Uncle (Umar) said when I am back in Malaysia again, we can go hang out at a ‘mamak’ (restaurant),” said Kwek, who is working in the movie industry in Tokyo.
Kwek said he is the eldest of three siblings from Kuala Lumpur. His interest in the Japanese language led him to Japan where he pursued studies in film and drama production in Osaka in 2022.
Recalling the fateful incident, he said it happened on May 8, 2005, when he fell into a swimming pool at the KL Plaza Suites, now known as Fahrenheit Suites.
“I don’t remember much but I remember playing near the pool. My parents were about to leave and told me they wanted to go to the shower with my sister.
“I couldn’t swim at the time. After falling into the pool, I tried to stay afloat but I failed. After that, I lost consciousness,” he said.
After the incident, he said his family sent a thank you card and a hamper to Umar as a token of appreciation.
When he was about 14, Kwek said, he wanted to get in touch with Umar but was unable to do so because all the information about the police officer, which was in his mother’s phone, was lost when the phone was damaged.
“All we knew then was that uncle was working in Bukit Aman,” he said, adding that he was traumatised by the incident and afraid to be near any swimming pool for some time.
Umar expressed his gratitude and joy in being able to connect with Kwek again.
“I was overwhelmed with happiness being able to speak and hear the young man’s voice.
“He has not forgotten me. I’m happy he is now a successful man and working in Japan,” he said.
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