Former SAJC ASEAN scholar on board missing plane

A Malaysian scholar who just last week collected his A-level results from St Andrew's Junior College (SAJC) was one of the passengers on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

Malaysian Tony Tan Wei Chew, 19, was believed to be on board with his parents, Mr Tan Ah Meng, 46, and Madam Cindy Chuang Hsiu Ling, 45, when the plane lost contact with air control towers early yesterday morning.

They were on their way to Beijing for a holiday, said his former roommate Aaron Quek, also 19.

Mr Quek and Mr Tan attended Catholic High School, before going to SAJC, where they shared the same dorm room for two years.

He said he had been invited on the trip as well. But that fell through after his friend told him the trip might be cancelled because his younger brother had exams.

Mr Quek was shocked when he checked the passenger list for the missing flight when it was released by MAS. The names of his friend and his parents were on it.

Mr Tan has two younger brothers back in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, where the family lives.

"Tony just got his A-level results on Monday," Mr Quek told The Sunday Times. "He was thinking of studying engineering in the United States."

He said his friend arrived in Singapore as an ASEAN scholar four years ago, and described him as a "very caring person - someone always ready to help his friends". "I just hope he is safe," he added, his voice shaking over the phone.

Mr Tan's Facebook page was filled with posts from his friends wishing him well, and praying for his safe return. Former Catholic High classmate Nigel Tan, who posted a class photograph on Facebook, called Mr Tan a "good friend for five years and counting".

He wrote: "I'm praying that we are given the chance to once more celebrate happier times."

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