[UPDATED] Over 300 mourners attend Samy Vellu’s final send-off at Cheras crematorium

KUALA LUMPUR – The funeral services for former MIC president and federal minister Tun S. Samy Vellu concluded at the crematorium in Cheras here after a full day of prayers and rituals.

It was attended by more than 300 mourners consisting of family members and members of the public.

Prior to arriving at the crematorium, family and friends had gathered at Samy Vellu’s residence in Jalan Ipoh here to pay their respects and offer condolences to the family.

The crowds, which steadily built up throughout the day, included several politicians who expressed their grief over Samy Vellu’s passing.

Among them included Makkal Sakti president Datuk Seri R. S. Thanenthiran who suggested that the North-South Expressway be renamed Tun S. Samy Vellu Highway to commemorate the former work minister’s contributions to nation building. 

Besides that, former Umno Wanita chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil reminisced on how Samy had always aimed to better the welfare of all citizens, regardless of race, while Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo recalled Samy’s openness to hold discussions.

The funeral proceedings, which also saw a brief visit from Perak’s Sultan Nazrin Shah, had started at around 1.30pm today while a wake had been held yesterday. 

Samy’s final outfit featured a pressed formal black suit reminiscent of those the well-dressed politician favoured during his time in the public eye, along with his ministerial name tag pinned to the lapel. 

Nearly every spare inch in the spacious home was filled with bouquets of flowers from various well-wishers, including one from Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on behalf of the party's supreme council.  

Following the completion of prayers at the home, about 14 KL City Council enforcement officers dressed in full uniform proceeded to carry the casket out before walking around 140m to load the casket into a waiting car decked with garlands of flowers.  

The officers were followed by a procession of mourners, some of whom were barefoot, while neighbours were seen recording the event and offering their own prayers from their balconies. 

While the weather seemed on the precipice of rain at several points in the day, heavy downpours never came, allowing proceedings to be carried out smoothly. 

The car carrying Samy was part of a convoy which then proceeded to drive past the MIC headquarters in the city centre – where Samy spent a good part of his illustrious life as the longest serving party president – before arriving at the Cheras Crematorium. 

The large group united in grief proceeded to pay their final respects to Samy after his casket was carried in on the shoulders of MIC Youth Brigade members. 

Samy died yesterday morning at the age of 86 in his residence here.

Besides being works minister from 1979 to 1989 and from 1995 to 2008, he was also the energy, telecommunications and posts minister from 1989 to 1995. – The Vibes, September 16, 2022