Indian crooner of Chinese songs Simon Mohan dies

IPOH: Simon Mohan, the singer of Indian ethnicity who used to sing in Chinese and even released an album in Mandarin in the 1990s, has passed away.

Simon, whose real name is Elanjselvan VM Mohan, was 64.

His eldest son, Krisna Mohan, 34, said his father passed away at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur at about 11am on Tuesday (June 11).

"He had dinner with us on Monday and at midnight, he complained he was having difficulty breathing and we called for an ambulance to take him to the hospital.

"Doctors informed us that he had a viral lung infection and a sudden drop in oxygen levels also caused his heart to fail," he added.

Krisna said his father had been staying in Kuala Lumpur after suffering a mild stroke in Ipoh about two months ago.

"We were concerned and felt it was better if he stayed with my brother rather than be alone in Ipoh," he said, adding that his mother passed away seven years ago.

Krisna said his father was more like a "friend" to him and his younger brother, Rajini, 30.

"We talked about anything, travelled and looked for good food to eat together. He was not your conventional father figure and was very good to us," he said.

He said that his father's body would be transported back to their home in Gunung Rapat, Ipoh.

"We will hold a wake for him over three days and the funeral will be held on Saturday," he added.