SEREMBAN, Aug 25 – Former Negeri Sembilan MIC chairman Datuk T. Rajagopalu died on Monday of a heart attack, said his son Thinalan. Rajagopalu was 63.
Rajagopalu died at 3.27 am at the Mawar Hospital here, Thinalan said.
“My father complained of difficulty breathing last night and we rushed him to the Mawar Hospital. He died at 3.27 am,” he said.
Rajagopalu leaves behind wife Datin V. Leelavathy, 61, and three sons, Thinalan, 36, Kamalan, 32, and Dhineshwaran, 30.
Thinalan said his father’s remains had been brought to the family residence at 523, Taman Ujong, Jalan Jambu 2, here.
Rajagopalu would be cremated at the Jalan Tun Dr Ismail Crematorium here at 4.30 pm Monday, he told Bernama.
Rajagopalu, a lawyer, was the head of the Rasah MIC Division and chairman of the Negeri Sembilan NAAM Foundation.
He was a former MIC secretary-general, a former state assemblyman for Jeram Padang and Port Dickson and a former state executive councillor.
MIC Central Working Committee (CWC) member Datuk V.S. Mogan expressed shock over the death.
“Rajagopalu’s death is a big loss to the Indian community, particularly in this state. He had contributed a great deal for the development and progress of the Indian community, both in the political and social fields,” he told Bernama.
Mogan, who is the Rembau MIC head, said the Wisma MIC building here was put up through the efforts of Rajagopalu.
Rajagopalu also helped to groom many second-echelon Indian leaders in the state, one of whom was himself, he said.
“I served as the Negeri Sembilan MIC secretary for 10 years under his leadership,” he added.
Jeram Padang state assemblyman and state executive councillor L. Manickam said Rajagopalu’s commitment to social and political work was beyond comparison.
He said Rajagopalu worked hard for the development and progress of the Indian community.
“I admired the way he worked, always thinking how to improve the Indian community. He is irreplaceable,” he added.
– BERNAMA
