Friends and ‘old foes’ pay tribute to Samy Vellu

 

Samy Vellu (centre) at a Barisan Nasional convention in July 2001. With him are then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik and Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Politicians from both sides of the divide have expressed their condolences over the death of former MIC president S Samy Vellu, who passed away today at the age of 86.

MCA president Wee Ka Siong described the passing of Samy Vellu, who was the longest-serving MIC president after holding the position for 31 years from 1979, as “a great loss to society and the country”.

“The services and sacrifices of the late Samy Vellu during his tenure as MIC president and Cabinet minister will always be remembered,” said Wee in a Facebook post.

“May his soul rest in peace.”

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Samy Vellu was also one of the longest-serving ministers, having been in the Cabinet for 29 years. He served as works minister from 1979 to 1989 and again from 1995 to 2008.

Ipoh Barat MP M Kula Segaran described Samy Vellu as a “fighter in many ways”.

“Though we had disagreements at the opposite sides of the aisle, he was a good friend,” said the DAP vice-chairman on Twitter.

Samy Vellu at a book launch in Kuala Lumpur in May 2016. On his right is former health minister Dr S Subramaniam. (Bernama pic)

Another DAP MP, Kasthuri Patto, said her late father, P Patto, “battled head on” with Samy Vellu for the Sungai Siput seat in two elections, 1974 and 1990, both of which Patto narrowly lost.

“When he (Patto) passed away in 1995, Samy Vellu paid his last respects to him. Today, I pay my respects. Rest in peace, Sir,” said the Batu Kawan MP on Twitter.

Samy Vellu, who was the Sungai Siput MP from 1974, was unseated by Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) in the 2008 general election.

Jeyakumar, who went on to defend the seat at the 2013 polls, said Samy Vellu brought about “a fair amount of development” to Sungai Siput in terms of roads and the Taman Tun Sambanthan low-cost housing project.

“It is a fairly big housing area of maybe around 400 to 500 houses developed in the 1980s,” he said.

“At the time, a lot of people were leaving the estates, and those were affordable homes for them to purchase.

“I didn’t agree with many of his policies, but he was a good orator, had a strong personality, and his own unique style of doing things.”

PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil said he was saddened to receive news of Samy Vellu’s passing and said he would be remembered as “a giant of Malaysian politics”.

“Regardless of how we assess his work or legacy today, or whether we agree with his politics or not, there is no doubt that he left an indelible imprint on Malaysian politics,” said the Lembah Pantai MP.

“My deepest condolences to his family on his passing.”

Former MIC president Dr S Subramaniam said Samy Vellu led a “full and glorious life” and would be “going off filled with deep respect and appreciation”.

“May his soul reach the abode of the Lord. Om Namashivaya,” he said. - FMT