Mr Mohamad Sofuan Ismail, 33, a diplomatic officer with Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry, was heading to Beijing to start a three-year stint. He was supposed to leave for the Chinese capital last month, but the move was postponed to last Friday.

His father, Mr Ibrahim Abdul Razak, 75, said he regretted his son’s decision to accept the posting. “I can’t do anything now but pray,” he said.

— PHOTO: FACEBOOK