Man who lost his job walks 428KM home
Image adapted from: Matnoe Poksu Din
These past few weeks have been hard on a lot of people, especially for those who have had their jobs taken away due to business closures during MCO. And with inter-state public transport disrupted until further notice, some people working away from their hometowns have had to take drastic measures to return to their families.
A Kelantanese man did exactly that and walked 428KM home from Kuala Lumpur to his hometown in Tanah Merah, Kelantan, to be reunited with his family.
Forced to walk home due to COVID-19
Matnoe Poksu Din had been working and living in Kuala Lumpur as a salesman, miles away from his wife and young daughter in Kelantan. However, due to MCO forcing everyone to stay home, he has been unable to earn any income.
Down on his luck and unable to pay his rent, Matnoe was evicted from his flat. He wanted to return home to Kelantan, but with a tight budget and no buses travelling out of state, Matnoe had no choice but to walk the 428KM home instead.
On 26th April, Matnoe posted on Facebook about attempting this journey, but all his friends thought he was joking.
Image adapted from: Matnoe Paksu Din
He posted a screenshot of his map with the caption, “4 hari la sapa. Marila sapo2 join. Kito pakat jalan kaki ghamaghama.”
That can be translated to “4 days to go. Whoever wants to can come and join. We’ll travel by foot together.”
Trying to ration the money he had left
While on his journey, he updated his followers via a Facebook live video and said that he had only drunk 100plus for the last 2 days in order to ration his money. However, he started to feel faint and eventually bought some rice to eat. Although he felt much better, he joked that his eye bags have seen better days.
Many kind Malaysians asked if there was any way that they could help. Some even offered monetary donations, which he declined. He assured everyone that he still had some money left and that he was all right.
He posted several other videos documenting his walk, including one where he was walking on the side of a highway.
Image adapted from: Matnoe Poksu Din
Besides the sole of his shoe coming off, Poksu Din also had to endure the force of Malaysian weather when he got to Gopeng, Perak. He found himself stranded in the middle of a storm and updated his followers via his Facebook saying, “Hujan lebat tokleh nok teruskan perjalanan!!!”
That can be translated to “Heavy rains. I cannot continue my journey!!!”
Finally home safe and sound
His journey finally ended after a kind lorry driver picked him up in Grik, Perak, and gave him a lift back to Kelantan. Those who had been following his journey were relieved that he did not have to continue his journey by foot.
Screenshot adapted from: Matnoe Poksu Din
Matnoe made it back home on 27th April 2020 and his wife, Sara Anisa, took to her Facebook to announce her husband’s safe return at 11PM that night.
“Alhamdulillah, selamat sampai di rumah dah. Terima kasih yang mendoakan dan byk membantu kami. Tq.”
This translates to “Alhamdulillah, he’s home safe. Thank you to those who have prayed and helped us this whole time. Thank you.”
On 28th April, Paksu Din updated in a Facebook post saying that he will be taking the COVID-19 test. He also jokingly added that he will not be walking to the hospital.
Man walks home from KL to Kelantan
Matnoe’s story has since gone viral on social media. Malaysians all over the country have praised the father-of-one’s determination to walk all the way home so he could be reunited with his family. We wish him all the best and hope that once the MCO is lifted, he will be able to find a job soon too.
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