MELAKA: The Festival of Lights celebration in the state this year could see an army veteran who fought the Communists being feted says a state exco member.
Melaka Health and Anti-Drugs committee chairman Low Chee Leong has proposed to Chief Minister Adly Zahari to invite a former trooper V. Sathasivam, 84, to Melaka to make the Deepavali celebration more significant for the state.
Sathasivam served Kem Terendak at Sungai Udang here in the late 1950s but is currently residing in Kuala Lumpur.
"Currently, the celebration is focused on giving aid to the underprivileged like in previous years.
"I am more eager to recognise the individuals who served the country and to make the Deepavali celebration merrier for senior citizens," he said when interviewed here on Wednesday (Oct 31).
Low, who visited Kem Terendak Military Hospital in August, said he came to know about a few army veterans who had served during the communist insurgency and during the Indonesian confrontation in the 1960s.
"So, I am planning to honour those surviving veterans during (all) festive seasons," he said.
"I am making arrangements for Sathasivam to be in Melaka soon to have a celebration with him, hopefully together with the Chief Minister," Low added.
Sathasivam is now living in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur.
Bayou Lagoon Park Resort has agreed to drive him to Melaka and back to Kuala Lumpur after the meeting.
The resort's CEO Datuk Marco Seow said that he is touched by the plans to invite the army veteran and says they will contribute towards making the celebration merrier for the octogenarian.
"We will even provide him with accommodation and arrange a gathering at our resort," he said.
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