Samy’s brother dies of heart attack
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk S. P. Vellu, the younger brother of Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, died of a heart attack at the Tawakkal Hospital here last night. He was 68.
Vellu, a lawyer, was rushed to the hospital from his home early yesterday and admitted to the intensive care unit. He died at 8.04pm.
Samy Vellu, who is MIC president, was at his brother’s bedside when the lawyer died.
Scores of relatives and friends, including past and present leaders of the party, had converged at the hospital upon hearing the news of the death.
“Samy Vellu was very close to his brother and was extremely fond of him,” said the minister’s press secretary, E. Sivabalan.
MIC veteran Tan Sri G. Vadiveloo said he had lost a dear friend.
“This is the second close friend I’ve lost in such a short period,” he said, referring to the other death involving former Ijok state assemblyman Datuk K. Sivalingam on April 4.
Vadiveloo said he, Selangor MIC deputy chairman M. Ratnam and the two men were always together.
Vellu left behind three children: sons Muthuvel, a lawyer, and Dr Sakthivel; and daughter Dr Sivaghami. His wife died in June 2003.
The funeral will be held at 4pm today at Vellu’s residence at No 80, Jalan Kampung Kasipillay, off Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. He will be cremated at the Cheras crematorium.