PUTRAJAYA: The late Indian Progressive Front (IPF) president Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan wrote a note to his wife that read “There is no death for me” in Tamil before falling unconscious at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on Sunday. He died of cancer at 9am yesterday.
His wife Puan Sri G. Jayashree, 55, said she did not understand what he meant.
However, he could have been paraphrasing the great 20th century Tamil poet Subrahmanya Bharathi, and the verse meant that a person may die but his works will live on after him.
Jayashree said the funeral had to be delayed for their only child Jayan, 21, a fourth-year medical student in Ukraine, to return home.
Pandithan had been hospitalised for over three months.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Pandithan’s passing was a great loss.
“I also appreciate him being a great supporter of the Barisan Nasional,” he told reporters after paying his last respects in Taman Bukit Serdang, Seri Kembangan, yesterday.
Abdullah told Jayashree to be calm because she had a heavy responsibility now.
“I understand that she will be taking over the leadership; so I hope she will be able to cope with the new role and is given support by party members,” he said.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said: “We are shocked by his death and wish to extend our condolences to his family. He worked tirelessly for the Indian community. I will miss him a lot because he was also my friend.”
People’s Progressive Party president Datuk M. Kayveas said the poor, have-nots and illiterates in the Indian community had lost a voice that fought hard for them.
MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan said Pandithan was a politician with noble principles and cared for the people.
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