Flag-draped coffin woman was on errand for PAS

A Hindu woman, whose coffin was controversially wrapped in a PAS flag, died while on her way to open a bank account for a PAS Supporters Club programme.

Letchumee Muthusamy was killed in an accident with a lorry while riding on her motorcycle, according to Kota Raja PAS Supporters Club chief Rashmanan Subramaniam.

Rashmanan said Letchumee, 56, who had been active in the PAS supporters movement for over five years, was heading to Klang at the time of the incident to open a bank account.

The move todrape her coffin with a PAS flag had received much criticism from several netizens, but Rashmanan said that party members agreed to do so to recognise her contributions to the party.

“She was one of the best personalities during the last general election. She campaigned hard for PAS. That was why we decided to cover her coffin with a PAS flag,” he said.

Kota Raja MP Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said that the Letchumee’s family had requested for the coffin to be wrapped with the party flag.

“On the day of the funeral, her family asked for the PAS flag. We couldn’t say no, and we all agreed to do it,” she said,

“For me, it is an honour for her and an honour for PAS. She was a strong PAS supporter and was very close to the party. We were like sisters,” added Siti Mariah (right).

Last respects

According to the PAS MP, the move was akin to giving a person his or her last respects at the funeral.

The move had drawn unfavourable comments, with several netizens questioning the act of placing the flag of an Islamic party on the coffin of a non-Muslim, but Siti Mariah said this had nothing to do with politics.

“We did not have any political agenda, we were just thinking about what would make her family be at peace,” she said.

“This has nothing to do with faith. I appreciate her struggle all this while even though she knew that PAS championed Islam, and they placed the flag because they wanted to show how proud they are to be part of the party,” she added.