Samy Vellu passes away at age 86
SHAH ALAM - Former Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president Tun Samy Vellu passed away this morning at the age of 86.
The news was confirmed by several ministers and former ministers who took to the social media to express their condolences over Samy Vellu’s passing.
In a brief Facebook post, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong expressed his condolences to the family.
“His passing is a great loss to the society and the country.
"His sacrifice and services during his tenure as the MIC president and cabinet minister will be remembered forever," he said.
Meanwhile, former Health Minister Datuk Seri S Subramaniam expressed his condolences and reminisced of the time when Samy Vellu had contributed to the Indian community and how he was the ultimate mentor.
"It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I received the tragic news of the demise of Tun Samy Vellu, former president of MIC and a legendary minister in the Malaysian Cabinet from his son Datuk Seri Vell Paari.
"To many of us, he was the ultimate mentor. His contribution to the nation and to the Indian community will be permanently etched in our memories.
“MIED, Aimst University, and Tafe College were his immortal contributions," he said.
Besides them, Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto also conveyed her condolences to the family through her social media account.
"My late father, P. Patto battled head-on with him in two General Elections and lost narrowly twice in Sungai Siput.
“When my father passed away in 1995, Samy Vellu paid his last respect to him in Ipoh," she said.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadhillah Yusof said the death of SamyVellu was a huge loss to the nation.
"His sacrifice and service as the cabinet minister and MIC president will always be remembered.
"The late Tun S. Samu Vellu used to serve as the Work Minister from 1983 until 1989 and 1995 until 2008," he said.
BN youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki also expressed his sympathy to the family of the late Samy Vellu.
"His sacrifice to the country and to the Indian community was major and he was respected by fellow friends and rivals.
"He's also the longest cabinet minister to serve which was 25 years," he added.
