Jijar Singh (pic) , 71, and family feel relieved that their son, Jijar Singh Sandhu, is coming home at last. ― Malay Mail pic

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 2 — Home, finally. This is the sentiment expressed by the family of Malaysia Airlines steward Sanjid Singh Sadhu, who was among those killed in the MH17 tragedy.

“My family feels relieved that at last our son is coming home,” Sanjid’s father, Jijar Singh Sandhu, said yesterday.

The remains of Sanjid and eight other victims will return to KL International Airport at about 8.30am today.

Jijar said the family would bring their son’s ashes back to their house in Taman Selamat, in Alma on the mainland, for relatives, friends and the public to pay their last respects.

A priest from the Sikh temple will lead a 15-minute prayer session at 8.30am tomorrow after which, the family will head for the island where the ashes will be scattered at sea.

The others whose remains will return today are pilots Capt Wan Amran Wan Hussin and Capt Eugene Choo Jin Leong, first officer Muhd Firdaus Abdul Rahim and passengers Subashni J. Retnam, Kaelamayajay Goes and Loh Yan Hwa.

The remains of two Dutch nationals, Paul Goes and Fan Shun Po, are also arriving on the commercial flight from Amsterdam.

A ceremony will be held at the Bunga Raya Complex of KLIA to honour the victims upon the arrival of the remains.

Family members of Loh and Fan will be at the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas ​to receive their remains.

Loh, 54, better known as Jenny, and Fan, known as Popo Fan, ran two restaurants in Rotterdam and were travelling with Loh’s mother, Tan Siew Poh, 65.

Sanjid Singh Sandhu (left), 41, and his wife Tan Bee Jeok, 43. ― Malay Mail pic

A member of the Penang Buddhist Tsu Zhi Merit Society, who wished to be known only as Khoo, said a group from the society would be present at the airport to assist the family members and offer prayers.

“The family members have expressed their intention to be left alone by the media. We have been with them all this while to give them strength at such a trying period,” Khoo said.

According to Bernama, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the remains would be in five caskets and four urns.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Cabinet members and the next-of-kin and relatives of the victims will attend the ceremony, he told a media conference.

“So far, we have succeeded in repatriating the remains of 24 Malaysian victims, including 12 Muslims,” he said.

The victims comprised 14 passengers and 10 crew members.

With the remains of seven more Malaysian victims to be repatriated today, a total of 31 Malaysian victims have been identified.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said preparations for the funerals, as requested by the next-of-kin of the victims, had been made.

She said the remains of Sanjid would be taken to his house in Jalan Klang Lama before they are flown by helicopter from the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Sungai Besi to Bukit Mertajam.