22-Year-Old M'sian Found Dead In Singapore River 3 Days After Going Missing
Khoo had just moved four months ago to teach Chinese in a tuition centre in Singapore.
By May Vin Ang — 21 Jan 2022, 05:22 PM
The body of a 22-year-old Malaysian woman was found floating in a river in Singapore, nearly three days after she went missing
The woman, Khoo Yee Joo, who hailed from Kedah, moved just four months ago to teach in a tuition centre on Chai Chee Road in Singapore.
According to The Straits Times, Khoo went missing after getting off work and did not return to her aunt's home in Toa Payoh on Sunday night, 16 January.
Her body was eventually found in Sungei Api Api on Tuesday evening, 18 January, for which the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the police were called in for assistance.
She was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic and police do not suspect foul play, but investigations are still ongoing.
Khoo had moved to Singapore after landing a job as an assistant Chinese teacher at the end of September last year
She had just graduated from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman with a bachelor's degree in commerce accounting and moved in with her aunt in Singapore.
Khoo's aunt told Singapore Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao that her niece was last seen at the bus stop opposite Chai Chee Industrial Park after she left work at 6pm on Sunday.
When the aunt realised Khoo was still not home by 10pm and was not answering her phone, she went to her workplace to look for her before reporting her missing at 2am at a police station.
The aunt said her niece would always return home from work on time and would always inform her if she was going out with her friends.
She also noted nothing different about her niece's behaviour the last time she saw her, which was the night before she disappeared.
Khoo leaves behind a 59-year-old father, 50-year-old mother, an elder sister, and a younger sister
Khoo's mother told Oriental Daily on Tuesday evening that she was grieving from the tragedy.
She said that her daughter's body was found without her personal belongings and that the authorities confirmed her identity through her fingerprints.
The mother also shared that before she left, her daughter was happy to land the job as a Chinese tuition teacher and cherished the opportunity. It was her daughter's first job after graduation.
"Although she mentioned to me a few days ago that some of the young children can be noisy and might place some pressure on her, she sounded contented," she said.
Meanwhile, Khoo's sister wrote in an Instagram post that the 22-year-old had sent a "distress signal" and "chose to end her pain in her own way".
She said Khoo had remarked that one day she will be gone in their last phone call together.
Unfortunately, the family could not make it to Singapore to attend Khoo's funeral due to COVID-19 travel restrictions
The Star reported that Khoo's body was cremated in Singapore today, 21 January.
The family said her last rites are being arranged by her aunt in Singapore, and her ashes will be sent back to a cemetery in their hometown in Kedah.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
If you or anyone you know is lonely, distressed, or having negative thoughts, please call these Malaysian hotlines:
1. BEFRIENDERS KL
24-hour
Contact: +603-76272929
Email: [email protected]
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2. TALIAN KASIH
24-hour
Contact: 15999
WhatsApp: +6019-2615999
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3. BUDDY BEAR CHILDLINE
Daily (12pm - 12am)
Contact: 1800-18-2327
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For a more thorough directory of resources, head over to the websites of Malaysian Mental Health Association or MINDAKAMI.
