GOMBAK: The family of a 26-year-old Malaysian who was fatally stabbed in South Korea is appealing to the government to help expedite the process of bringing his body home for burial.
The victim, Ahmad Shah Ahmad Ros, had been working in South Korea for about seven years and was killed after allegedly intervening to help a friend, who was being assaulted by a group of men.
His grieving mother, Zulfah Fadliani, 47, said the family hoped the authorities, particularly the Malaysian Embassy in Seoul and Wisma Putra, would continue assisting them in completing the necessary documentation and arrangements to repatriate Shah's remains as soon as possible.
"We only want to bring our son home. We hope the government can help ease and speed up the process so he can finally return to Malaysia," she said when met at the family's home in Bandar Tasik Puteri in Rawang on Monday (July 27).
Zulfah said the family was initially overwhelmed by concerns over the high cost of repatriating Ahmad Shah's body, which was estimated to run into tens of thousands of ringgit.
"However, his wife Nurcahaya Ruslan insisted that he be laid to rest in Malaysia, rejecting suggestions for burial or cremation in South Korea as she wanted him to be close to his family.
"We are grateful to all Malaysians and my son's friends who had contributed funds (to bring his body back) and offered support to the family during the difficult period.
"We also appreciate the Malaysian Embassy, Wisma Putra and the Consular Department’s swift response in assisting with post-mortem reports, documentation and other procedures," she added.
Recalling their final conversation on the afternoon before the tragedy on Saturday (July 25), Zulfah said Ahmad Shah had told his family everything was fine.
"He never wanted us to worry. Even if he had problems or was injured, he would keep it to himself and reassure us that everything was fine," she said.
However, later that night, Zulfah received a tearful phone call from Ahmad Shah's wife informing her that her son had been stabbed.
"I had just woken up and couldn't believe what I was hearing. Later, we were told he had succumbed to severe blood loss at the hospital," she said in between sobs.
Meanwhile, his father, Ahmad Ros Abidin,55, said Ahmad Shah, who worked in a factory in South Korea, had just gotten married in April.
"He was looking forward to returning to Malaysia for good in December," he said.
Earlier, the victim's sister Ain Sophia, 25, said the family was informed that the post-mortem had been completed but several documentation procedures were still being finalised with the Malaysian Embassy in South Korea before the body could be flown home.
"So far, we have submitted all the required documents. Once all the procedures are completed, arrangements will be made to bring my brother's body back to Malaysia.
"We have not been informed when the body is expected to arrive as there are still several formalities that need to be completed," she said when contacted.
According to South Korean newspaper Korea JoongAng Daily, police have detained a Malaysian man in his 40s to assist in investigations.
The suspect is being investigated for murder and several other offences after allegedly stabbing the victim with a knife.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 3am on a road in Daeso-eup, Eumseong County.
Preliminary investigations found that two groups, including the suspect and the victim, were involved in a large fight at the scene.
