JOHOR BARU: How did a teacher go absent for nine months with no one knowing about her whereabouts – until her body was found in her house?
That is the question that has mystified the school authorities who had tried since November to contact the woman who had reportedly been absent from classroom duty since last September.
Her decomposed body was found at her home on Thursday. It is believed she had died about a month ago.
According to Bernama, the school staff members had not only gone to her house several times but they had also written to agencies like the Road Transport Department (JPJ), the Prisons Department, the Immigration Department and also sent a letter requesting her address from the National Registration Department.
Johor Education and Information Committee chairman Aznan Tamin said the last time teacher Lo Kwan Fong, 39, contacted her school in Johor Baru was on Sept 26 last year to say that she would not be coming in.
She then became elusive and untraceable.
“She could not be contacted via phone calls, WhatsApp, short messaging service (SMS) and Messenger and Telegram apps.
“The school principal also issued a show-cause letter for her absence from duty,” Aznan said.
On Dec 29 last year, the woman’s neighbour had told school staff that the teacher had not returned to her home for a long time, going by the many letters and mail stuffed into the windows and door of her house. Her car, however, was parked outside.
“The deceased was an only child and lived alone after her parents died,” Aznan said, adding she also had had personal problems and suffered from depression.
Her body is still at the Hospital Sultanah Aminah here as no relative had come forward to claim the remains.
Yesterday, police confirmed the discovery of the decomposed body at a house in Bandar Selesa Jaya, Iskandar Puteri, at about 8pm after a neighbour complained of a foul smell.
A post-mortem could not ascertain the cause of death because of the advanced state of decomposition.
On Saturday, a Chinese primary school posted a tribute to the teacher on its Facebook page.
“After days of relentless investigation by the police, it has been confirmed that our dearly respected teacher has tragically passed away at the age of 39.
“The devastating news has brought immense grief to all. Teacher Lo was a role model who was gentle, humble, dedicated, and well-loved by her peers.
“She poured her heart into the field of education, always upholding a spirit of care for her students and a strong sense of responsibility,” it said.
In the post, written in Mandarin, the school also appealed to the public for help in reaching out to the woman’s next of kin, including an aunt believed to be living in Singapore as well as other relatives in Taiping, Perak.
