BY: Michelle Liew
Family is perhaps one of the most important things in life and no matter what.
Due to expensive flight tickets, a woman and her family have not been able to go back to their hometown in Miri, Sarawak for the past six years.
The mother of four took the opportunity to call Fly FM during the Douglas Lim and Ili In The Morning Show to share her story. However, what she did not expect was that granted her a chance to head back to her hometown to be with her family.
On Tuesday, during the show, she detailed how even though the interstate travel ban has been lifted, she was unable to travel back to Miri. Alyaa, as she said her name was, stated that her husband recently started a new job after closing down their business during the Movement Control Order. They were selling putu bambu.
Alyaa is a housewife and stayed at home looking after their four children as her husband heads to work. She noted that the tickets could cost up to RM3,000 for the entire family and it was difficult to proceed with the purchase.
Upon hearing this, host Douglas Lim asked if Alyaa was fine with the radio station sponsoring her family to go back to Miri. Baffled by the question, Alyaa tried not to get her hopes up.
“No, we are serious. It is not a joke,” Douglas insisted. “I have spoken to the people here and they have all agreed. We will be sending you and your family back to Miri so you can visit them.”
“It’s been six years. I don’t know how it is like to be away from family for so long. I’m sure it must have been tough. But we want you and your family to have this opportunity. States are open (for interstate travelling) and you deserve to be back in Miri.”
Alyaa was more than happy to receive the surprise gift and added that her sister back in Miri is giving birth next month. Alyaa shared the good news with her mother and is beyond ecstatic to finally be able to set foot back to her hometown.
“Thank you so much, Fly FM. You made my day today,” Alyaa said in a video she uploaded on Instagram.