Late MIC president's family donates 10,000-ringgits award money to Tamil school

Petaling Jaya (Malaysia), Sep. 5 (ANI): The family of late MIC president V. T. Sambanthan has decided to donate the 10,000-ringgits Anugerah Tokoh Kemerdekaan award money to the Mahatma Gandhi Kalasalai Tamil school of Perak.

According to Sambanthan's daughter Deva Kunjari, her mother Toh Puan Umasundari had asked the Perak state government to transfer the money to the school founded by Sambanthan.

"We chose to channel the money to this school because my father really loved it. If he hadn't gone into politics, I believe he would have continued to develop education in Sungai Siput," The Star Online quoted Kunjari as saying.

The sum and award were presented to the family to honour Sambanthan's contributions to the country's struggle for Independence.

Deva Kunjari said her family declined the money because no monetary value could be attached to her father's dedicated and committed service to the country.

"We accepted the award of a pingat (medal) and a certificate as an honour accorded to a son of Perak by the state government," said Deva Kunjari.

Sambanthan, the fifth MIC president, assumed the post in 1955, taking over from former party president K. L. Devaser.

He was in the forefront of the struggle for Independence with the country's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Two others who received the award were former Perak Mentri Besar, the late Panglima Bukit Gantang Abdul Wahab Toh Muda Abdul Aziz and former Health Minister the late Dr Lim Swee Aun. (ANI)