Md Salim Sarmo, 65, the father of MH17 victim Mohd Ali, said he and the family cannot wait to kiss his son, whose remains are expected to arrive by helicopter at the Pagoh National Skills Training Institute (IKBN) mini stadium, near here, Friday afternoon.

When met by reporters at his home in Kampung Jayor, Pagoh, here Thursday, he said he was happy and grateful to hear that his son's body was almost intact when it was prepared in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

"We accept whatever condition Mohd Ali's body is in, but I was told by his friends in the Netherlands who helped prepare the bodies, that his body was the most complete.

"They said it was complete and his hands were also soft when they bathed his body. We are relieved and thankful for being given the chance to see his face one last time tomorrow (today)," he said.

Mohd Ali, who was a Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturer candidate, was doing his doctorate in Development Neuropsychopathology at the Erasmus Universitiet Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Md Salim said the family was allowed to see Mohd Ali's face, but prohibited from taking his photo to avoid from it being manipulated for ill purposes.

He and the family left for Kuala Lumpur at 4pm Thursday to receive the remains after which they will accompany it back by helicopter to IKBN Pagoh.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Pagoh MP, and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin are among those who will welcome Mohd Ali's remains at the IKBN.

Mohd Ali will be buried next to his granduncle, Jawat Suradi, who died at the age of 93 as the two had shared a close relationship.

"Each time he comes back to Malaysia, Mohd Ali will definitely visit his granduncle and last Aidilfitri, both of them took a photo together. I didn't expect both of them to be buried side by side," he said.

Md Salim, who has eight children, conveyed his appreciation to everyone involved in bringing his son's remains home especially Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak, Muhyiddin, the Malaysian government, Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysian Embassy in the Netherlands.