KOTA KINABALU – The remains of the late Tan Sri Joseph Kurup arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport here at about 11.20pm last night on a commercial flight.
The flight, initially scheduled to depart at 9.15am yesterday, was cancelled due to ash clouds from Mount Ruang’s volcanic eruption in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, engulfing the air space.
Joseph’s son Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, who is also the deputy agriculture minister, accompanied his late father’s body.
The remains were taken to the Fook Lu Siew Coffin Supplies Sdn Bhd, Jalan Tuaran here and placed there for everyone to pay their last respects.
Services for dignitaries and members of the public to pay their last respects are scheduled from 2pm to 8pm today.
On Wednesday, Joseph, 79, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) founder and former Sabah deputy chief minister passed away at the National Heart Institute, Kuala Lumpur.
The former Pensiangan MP held the post of unity and national integration minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Joseph retired from politics last year after being PBRS president since 1994 and his son, Arthur, who was deputy took over as PBRS president in January last year. – April 19, 2024