PETALING JAYA: Former MIC president S Samy Vellu has passed away.
“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I received the tragic news of the demise of Tun Samy Vellu, the former MIC president and a legendary minister in the Malaysian Cabinet, from his son, Vell Paari,” said former MIC president Dr S Subramaniam in a Facebook post.
“To many of us, he was the ultimate mentor.”
Samy Vellu, who was 86, was the Sungai Siput MP from 1974 to 2008 and served as works minister from 1979 to 1989. He was the energy, telecommunications and posts minister from 1989 to 1995 before taking over the works ministry once again from 1995 to 2008.
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He was the longest-serving MIC president after holding the position for 31 years from 1979. Samy Vellu served under three prime ministers during his time in the Cabinet – Hussein Onn, Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
He was also one of the longest-serving ministers, having been in the Cabinet for 29 years.
His former press secretary, E Sivabalan, said those who wish to pay their last respects may do so from 2pm at Samy Vellu’s residence at 19, Lengkongan Vethavanam, Batu 3 1/2, Jalan Ipoh, 51100 Kuala Lumpur.
The cortege will leave at 3pm tomorrow and arrive at the DBKL crematorium in Cheras at 4pm, he said in a statement.