KUCHING, Nov 3: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) had raised concerns on the safety and security of Sarawakians in Taiwan to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia following the murder of a student who was originally from Sibu.
SUPP Central Youth chief Michael Tiang revealed that the concerns were conveyed through its party’s deputy president Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem, who is also the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
The body of Irene Chung, a student in Tainan, was found on Oct 29 in Kaoshiung’s mountainous Alian District after the school reported her missing the day before.
The victim’s parents had flown into Taiwan from Kuala Lumpur on Nov 1 to identify the body and make arrangements for her funeral.
Tiang said that he had been working with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Ministry of Tourism, State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) and Sarawak Taiwan Graduates’ Association to ensure Irene’s parents will have a smooth process in bringing her ashes home to Sibu tomorrow (Nov 4).
“This also includes complying with all the required Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) for travellers returning from overseas to Sarawak,” he shared in a statement today.
Since the tragic incident, he added that various departments and authorities including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had extended their assistance to the parents to expedite their travel clearance to fly to Taiwan amidst Covid-19 travel restrictions.
“On behalf of our president Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, SUPP expressed our deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of Irene Chung.”
Meanwhile, Taiwanese police had arrested a suspect and he confessed to strangling the victim with a rope before dumping her body. The suspect was detained for voluntary manslaughter and sexual assault.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and Premier Su Tseng-chang had also apologised to the family as well as Malaysians over the murder. — DayakDaily
