Roadside funeral for MIC man

Management won't allow rites within condo compound, says ex-youth chief T Mohan.

KUALA LUMPUR: A condominium management’s decision to prohibit a funeral ceremony has left the family and friends of the deceased fuming.

Lembah Pantai MIC division deputy chief A Subramaniam, 57, died on Saturday at the National Heart Institute (IJN) after being admitted there following a heart attack, which occurred at the MIC headquarters here. He was there to witness nominations for the election of the party’s central leadership.

Former MIC youth leader T Mohan, saying he was speaking on behalf of Subramaniam’s family, lashed out at the condominium management, accusing it of insensitivity to the feelings of the bereaved.

“Subramaniam’s remains have been placed by the roadside since 4pm yesterday,” he said. “It is utterly disgraceful that the family has to resort to putting up a tent to keep his body in wake at a roadside.”

Hundreds of mourners, who included politicians, NGO leaders and former national athletes, have gone to the tent to pay their last respects. The deceased once served as chairman of the Federal Territories Amateur Athletic Association.

The condominium is located at Jalan Kasipillay.

Mohan said the management should have at least provided a place in the high-rise condominium complex so that the family could conduct final rites for Subramaniam.

“I was told that a condominium unit here is about RM400,000, but these heartless people can’t even allocate a proper place for the family to keep Subramaniam’s remains,” he said.

“This is unacceptable and a gross violation of human rights.”

He said he wondered whether the prohibition of funeral rites applied only to Hindus.

He also questioned how Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) could have approved the construction a condominium without basic amenities such as a funeral hall.

“They should have ensured that all the facilities are there before giving the green light to build the condominium.”