Malaysian Elaine Teoh, Dutch boyfriend on board MH17, loving duo till the end
Posted on July 20, 2014, Sunday
KUALA LUMPUR: Melbourne University’s former student, Elaine Teoh and boyfriend, Emiel Mahler who were on the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 were described as a loving couple who had utmost respect for each other, right to the very end, according to best friend, Tan Sook Theng.
In a statement to Bernama via email, her best friend, Tan Sook Theng said: “Seeing her so happy with the love of her life makes me, as a friend, genuinely grateful that fate brought them together…their relationship is one that I would wish for everyone.
“They make each other so happy while bringing out the best in each other. Truly, they complemented each other’s lives.”
Tan, 27, who has been close friends with Teoh for 13 years since the latter moved to Subang Jaya in 2012, was scheduled to fetch her from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Friday (6.10am Malaysian time), before she heard the plane had crashed in Ukraine, with her friend, among those on board.
“We last texted on Whatsapp on the day she boarded the plane and were excited to see each other again after our last meeting in January this year.
“We were to spend the weekend together and all this time, we had been in touch every other week with one another. Now, there will be no more of that,” she said.
Describing Teoh as a smart, funny, witty and beautiful individual, Tan said her friend was both a “partner in crime and a shoulder to always lean on”.
“She had a gentle heart, always a kind-spirited human being and sincerely a very loving person. She was family.”
Teoh, originally from Penang, and Mahler, a Dutch national, both 27, lived in Melbourne where they worked in the finance sector. The couple who had been together since 2012, was on holiday in Portugal and Holland before departing shortly after noon on Thursday from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
Sharing her thoughts on the incident, Tan said: “People have all the basic necessities to live; life isn’t really all that complicated, but people make it so. The only thing that’s making this world sick is that people are feeding their ego. What makes them so superior than the rest to play God?”
Till now, both Teoh and Mahler’s Facebook page has been flooded with heart-rending messages from family and friends, expressing their condolences on the loss of the couple.
A recent post on Teoh’s Facebook read: “Gone too soon, one of the nicest, friendliest and kindest person I have ever met. A girl with a big smile but an even bigger heart.”
Je Wook Jung, a friend of Mahler also paid tribute on his Facebook page which read: “You will be truly missed by all of us. Such a good man, we will remember all the good memories we had with you. Rest in Peace, mate.”
Meanwhile, Teoh’s brother, David, in a statement on Facebook posted: “While I understand public opinions and comments on MH17, I urge my friends to remain wise and calm when talking about it and also keep my family and I in prayer as we are going through these tough times. Your prayers and thoughtfulness will be very much appreciated.”
MAS Flight MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it went down in Eastern Ukraine, after it was believed to have been shot down.
The Boeing 777 aircraft was carrying 298 people – 283 passengers and 15 crew.
