Bansh, Tan missed by friends, family

KOTA KINABALU: The sudden death of Marc Joel Bansh, 23, and Tan Ah Chai, 96, was a shock and a great loss to many.

On the day of the crash, MASwings co-pilot Bansh was on board the DHC-6 Twin Otter 9M-MDM MH3002 flight with his captain, Wan Mohd Abdul Amir Wan Yahya, 56.
They were flying 16 passengers, including Tan, who was a paper material supplier, and his son, Kang Cheing, from here to Kudat.
Tan and his son arrived in Kota Kinabalu from Kuala Lumpur and were travelling to Sandakan for a business trip on the connecting flight.
Following the crash, relatives and friends extended their condolences to Bansh's family on social media. Yesterday, many of Tan's friends were present at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital mortuary to pay their respects.
One of his sons had flown in from Kuala Lumpur to claim the body and belongings.
A check on his social media account showed Bansh was loved by many. Friends described him as a fun and dedicated person.
Joanna Marie Faurillo, 21, said Bansh's presence lighted up the room and his death was a big loss not only to the family but also close friends.
"The last we spent time together was at Sapi island a month ago. I didn't regret skipping class on that day. I met him again after I dropped off my boyfriend at the airport in Kuala Lumpur. He was flying back to Miri.
"He was sad about leaving but I told him 'don't worry, time flies, you'll be back in no time'," she said. Her boyfriend, Jason Denis, was one of Bansh's best friends.
As for Audrey Ambrose, 23, Bansh always had time for friends and would catch up with them whenever he was back in town.
Mohammad Ziyad, 23, a dentistry student in Universiti Sains Malaysia Kelantan, met Bansh in 2007 in a music camp in Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
"He was fun and friendly. We always hung around and talked about jamming and our future."
Ziyad last met him last year when Bansh was a trainee pilot with the Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy in Kelantan.
"Bansh said he was grateful to be able to fly a plane as that was his dream since he was a child."
Tan's business partner, who wanted to be known as Wong, said Tan was a good friend to many people here for many years.
"He would visit us whenever he came here, whether it was for business or social activities."
Tan Ah Chai’s children offering prayers after claiming his body at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital mortuary in Kota Kinabalu. Pic by Adam Arinin


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