PETALING JAYA, Malaysia – The body of MCA scholar Goh Siow Chong, who died in the United States, has yet to arrive home as it is being held in Japan following misplaced documents.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the body, which was supposed to arrive in KL International Airport at 4.30am yesterday, was currently in a Delta Airlines warehouse at Narita Airport pending proper documentation.

“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 currently negotiating with the Japanese authorities to expedite the process of bringing Goh’s body back to Malaysia.

Goh, also known as Manford, was on a scholarship for a PhD in neuroscience from the Rutgers University in New Jersey when he died of brain cancer on Aug 17.

He had received a scholarship under the MCA Youth campaign some eight years ago to study Form 4 and 5 in MRSM Bakri.

Goh’s father had travelled to the United States upon hearing of his son’s death and returned to Kuala Lumpur two days ago.

Speaking to The Star, Dr Wee expressed his disappointment that no one had been informed of the documentation problem, including Goh’s family.

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. Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron’s special secretary was also at the airport.