MCA scholar's body stuck in Japan

SINGAPORE - The body of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) scholar Goh Siow Chong, who died in the US, has yet to arrive home.

MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong said the body, which was supposed to arrive at KL International Airport (KLIA) at 4.30am on Sunday, was in a Delta Airlines warehouse at Tokyo's Narita Airport pending proper documentation, reported The Star.

"The authorities in Japan are waiting for the documentation from Delta Airlines before the body can be released to MASkargo to be brought here. Delta Airlines had booked the next flight from Narita at 10.30am to arrive here at 4.45pm but customs clearance was not given. Hence, that flight was also missed," he said.

Dr Wee added that MASkargo officials were negotiating with the Japanese authorities to expedite the process of bringing Mr Goh's body back to Malaysia.

Scholarship

Mr Goh was doing his PhD in neuroscience at Rutgers University in New Jersey when he died of brain cancer on Aug 17.

He had received a scholarship under the MCA Youth campaign.

Mr Goh's father had travelled to the US on hearing of his son's death and returned to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Speaking to The Star, Dr Wee expressed his disappointment that Mr Goh's family had not been informed of the documentation problem.

Mr Goh's mother, a fruit seller, and his sister had travelled from Malacca to KLIA to receive the body, waiting in vain until about 7.30am.

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