After a week of trauma, anger, and sadness, the family of Kuhan Ananthan finally laid him to rest at Puchong Batu 14 cemetery. I passed by the place (Jalan Puchong) at 6.30pm and saw the polis vehicles leaving – lorries, vans, water cannon truck, cars, and motorbikes.

The death of the alleged car theft syndicate member (?) raised tempers and questions alike. Politicians on both sides weighted in with the opinions. The non-Indian politicians also their hand at providing advice and information. MIC, PPP, and PR politicians won some brownie points over their fast response, but this was marred due to political one-upmanship, especially on Pakatan’s side, which reared its ugly head soon after the death. As I strongly belief, politicians are doing their job which include gaining maximum mileage in order to stay in their job.  They can’t avoid it since no news is bad news for them.

The events today started at UMMC mortuary. The family, accompained by hundreds of friends, well-wishers, and some politicians (Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy, Teluk Intan MP M. Manogaran, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and N. Surendran, the lawyer representing Kugan’s family) from PR (strangely, no mention of BN reps were made in any of the media providers) converged at the hospital to claim the body, which underwent second post-mortem. The police, probably spooked by news that 10,000 people (which I doubt) will be there to show their support, blocked the roads leading to the hospital.

According to Malaysiakini, 5 people (NST said 6) were arrested at the hospital – mainly for wearing HINDRAF t-shirt and scuffling with police. One of them was a suspect in a murder case.  The arrests took place between 12pm and 1.35pm. By then more than 300 people had gathered at the venue. 100 over policemen were there as well.

The hearse carrying Kugan’s body stopped at the Taipan police station for prayers (that’s a long way from UMMC! – incidentally, I passed by the police station at 11.15am today) and the funeral procession proceeded to the Batu 14 Hindu cemetery for the burial. Kugan was buried at 5.45pm. According to YB Mike, Selangor government paid for the funeral expenses (including the gold Merc?)

Below is extract from Malaysiakini report:

The scorching afternoon heat and subsequent heavy downpour failed to deter some 500 people from marching behind the golden Mercedes Benz, ferrying the remains of Kugan Ananthan who died in police custody last week.

MCPX

At about 2pm, the procession left the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) in Petaling Jaya en route to a Hindu cemetery in Puchong, some 20km away.

A second post-mortem was conducted at UMMC on Sunday after the family rejected the findings of the first procedure which stated that Kugan died of fluid accumulation in his lungs.

Accompanied by scores of media representatives, including foreign journalists, the procession arrived at the Taipan police station in Subang Jaya some 80 minutes later.

It was here that the 22-year-old youth, whose body was riddled with severe lacerations, had collapsed and died.

The marchers, who were joined by another large group, spent about two minutes reciting a prayer and shouting slogans condemning the police for the alleged use of excessive force, before moving on.

Some 20 Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel kept a close watch while a police helicopter circled above. However, no untoward incidents were reported.

The procession reached the cemetery more than two hours later, bringing traffic to a standstill in several areas along the way while passing motorists honked to express their support.

Earlier this morning, the police had closed all roads leading to UMMC ahead of the funeral procession.

Five people were also arrested, three for wearing a T-shirt of the banned movement Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) and the other two for trying to breach a police barricade to enter the mortuary.

Among those arrested was Hindraf coordinator RS Thanenthiran.

Kugan’s remains were buried at about 5.30pm after some rites and prayers.

According to Kapar MP S Manikavasagam, the Selangor government had paid for the funeral expenses.

Extracts from The Star provide more details:

He was buried in the presence of family members and hundreds of supporters and well-wishers.

It was a day in which emotions were on edge. The drama started in the vicinity of the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) in Petaling Jaya when the Field Reserve Unit (FRU) and the Light Strike Force were deployed, creating a massive jam at about 9:30am.

The units were placed there in anticipation of a large crowd for the procession that would begin at the UMMC mortuary where Kugan’s body was being kept, Petaling Jaya police chief Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed said.

By 11am, that expected large crowd had materialised, even before Kugan’s family arrived at about noon.

Five men were arrested, the first two at about 12:15pm for trying to get through a barricade at the mortuary despite orders to disperse.

These arrests came after Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid had made an announcement asking the crowd disperse.

“They have been taken to the Brickfields police headquarters for questioning,” ACP Wan Abdul Bari said.

Two more were detained at about 1:40pm by plainclothes policemen for allegedly trying to incite the crowd.

All four were wearing t-shirts depicting the outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force movement, or Hindraf. One is believed to be former Hindraf coordinator R.S. Thanendran.

The fifth, according to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan at a press conference later in Putrajaya, was a murder suspect who was also wearing a Hidnraf t-shirt.

Denied entry
At 12:45pm, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, Teluk Intan MP M. Manogaran, Penang Deputy Chief Minister (II) Dr P. Ramasamy and the family’s lawyer N. Surendran arrived but were denied entry into the mortuary by a UMMC security officer.

A heated exchange ensued before they were allowed in, together with Kugan’s parents and two other relatives.

Other relatives and friends were then allowed entry into the mortuary, but only in batches of five.

At a hastily-convened press conference at the scene, Manikavasagam denied online rumours that the funeral procession was going to proceed to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre to hold a demonstration.

Instead, he clarified, the procession would first proceed to Subang Jaya where a short prayer would be held at the Taipan police station in which Kugan died, before proceeding to Puchong for the funeral rites.

Meanwhile, Gobind said they were not there to cause trouble and blamed the police for blowing things out of proportion.

“We’re just here to show our support,” he said. “We’re just here to claim the body and allow Kugan’s funeral to proceed.”

Gobind also said that the second post-mortem report has been completed but the doctor who conducted it had yet to reveal anything.

… At about 1:25pm Wednesday, FRU officers came to the front of the mortuary and forced press photographers away from the scene.

Tempers flare
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok arrived as well before Kugan’s body was transferred to a hearse and driven to Subang Jaya, arriving there at about 2:50pm.

After short prayers near the Taipan police station, some people in the crowd brought out banners and posters, against earlier directives of the authorities, and began shouting accusations at the police.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar on Monday had said that police would not allow any carrying of banners or posters during Kugan’s funeral, adding that the funeral should not be politicised or turned into a racial event.

“The body should be brought straight from the mortuary to the cemetery in Puchong,” he had said, adding that if Kugan’s body was taken elsewhere, it would be considered an illegal gathering and the police would take action.

However, when faced with the angry crowd on Wednesday, the police kept calm and continued directing traffic.

The procession finally left a little after 3:00pm to proceed to the crematorium at Puchong.

Meanwhile, Waythamoorthy denounced the arrest of 5 people :

Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy said the arrests revealed police suppression of the people’s right to attend public gatherings.

“The actions of the police clearly show that they behave in a manner above the constitution,” he said in a statement.

Petaling Jaya police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed said the five were arrested while people were gathering to take part in the funeral procession earlier today.

He added that three men – including Hindraf coordinator RS Thanendran – were arrested for wearing the Hindraf T-shirt. The government had banned the movement last October.

The other two were arrested for attempting to break a police cordon to enter the UMMC mortuary.

Responding to this, Waythamoorthy said that the police action in arresting the five was uncalled for.

It also appeared that the police were being unprofessional in handling this matter, he said, pointing out to the fact that no action has been taken against the 11 police personnel under probe for Kugan’s death.

“The (alleged) murderers of Kugan are let loose on a light desk job,” he said.

He added that in any normal circumstances, murder suspects would be immediately arrested and a maximum remand order obtained.

This, he said, was usually done to facilitate investigations and to prevent suspects from tampering with evidence and hampering police investigations.

“However in the Kugan case the police suspects are given a desk job.

“And the police, the attorney-general and our Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar urge Malaysians to have faith in the system and let the cause of justice prevail,” he said.

Waythamoorthy said the police should be arresting those directly involved in the death of Kugan and not those who had come to take part in his funeral procession.

So, what’s next? Everyone is waiting for the second post-mortem report. In the mean time, expect more mud-slinging between the parties involved.

As I write this, my friend’s story comes to mind. She was robbed in broad daylight near the Balakong market last Saturday (yup, 5 days ago). She was still in her car with 1-year old baby in it, about to alight from the car. Suddenly two Indian guys “barged” into her car. One of them put a knife and spoke in Tamil. Clean shaven and well-dressed, no one would say they were robbers. My friend took off her jewelleries. A Chinese lady who witnessed the crime was calling the police. The robbers panicked and ran away with whatever they could get. She went to make police report and was shown photos of many suspects (mainly of Indians and foreigners). So, for my friend, people like Kuhan “deserve it”. I dare say those among us who were mugged, robbed etc will agree. I was mugged way back in 1990s while on the way back from university. Yeah, at the moment of anger, I’ll say kill those ********* if can. But on hindsight, they should have their day in court and receive appropriate punishment, not death all the time.

Kugan is a suspect – the police MAY have evidence saying he is one (he did lead them to the stolen cars, so surely he knew something).  But if its true, he is part of a bigger group – one that uses people like Kuhan to commit crime. Thus more effort is needed to get to the root of the syndicate.

Those who live a life of crime, will suffer a similar fate. Live by the sword, die by the sword. Like it or not, Kuhan may have some connections (either knowingly or unknowingly to him) with car theft syndicate. A lesson to be learnt here is know your friends well. Don’t mix with the wrong group  as being in the wrong place at the wrong time can lead to deadly consequences.

May his soul move on to a better next life.

Om shanti shanti shanti.