GIRL PINES FOR MISSING FATHER
Widow of MH370 steward says daughter misses father, has hard time dealing with loss
AFTER three years, Kylie Tan, daughter of flight steward Tan Size Hiang, who was on board the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, is still grappling to come to terms with what had happened to her father.
Kylie, 8, has been pining for her father ever since the plane disappeared on March 8, 2014.
Elaine Chew, 38, said two weeks ago, she wanted to surprise Kylie with a dog.
“When I told her that I had a surprise waiting for her, she said: ‘Is daddy coming back?’ I was surprised by her response.”
She said Kylie and Size Hiang were close.
“Every time Size Hiang was away for work, he would remind me to take care of Kylie and tell us that he missed us so much. But, now, we are the ones who miss him,” she told the New Straits Times.
Chew said her family was struggling to cope with her husband’s disappearance.
“I’m a manicurist, kais pagi makan pagi, kais petang makan petang ( just enough to survive).
“I need to work hard to support my family,” she said, adding that Size Hiang’s absence had left a hole in her life that could never be filled again.
Chew said she was grateful to have his family to support and help her.
“My family treats us with extra care and helps ease my burden,” she said.
Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS) said the search, recovery and investigation into MH370 lay with the state.
“Therefore, MAS will be guided by the relevant decisions. We, however, remain hopeful that in the near future, new and significant information will come to light and that the aircraft will be located,” it said.
MAS, in a reply to the
Times, said to date, all next of kin of MH370 passengers, who had claimed compensation, had had their claims settled or were in the process of settling the claims.
“MAS will not discuss any information on compensation publicly, out of respect for the family members. MAS remains committed to ensuring a fair and equitable compensation.
“We lost a part of our family and they will forever be remembered. Our priority remains to safeguard the welfare of their next of kin.
“Our Family Support Centre continues to keep them updated on any information and support them. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragedy,” it said.