About 200 people attended the funeral of Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, a Malaysian who was executed at Singapore’s Changi Prison on April 27.
The funeral ceremony started at 12.15pm at his residence in Taman Indah, Tanjung Rambutan before the body was cremated at 5.15pm at the Buntong Hindu Crematorium, Perak.
The ceremony was mournful, and there were several banners hung around the house with the words “We Love You Boy Anne” (we love you, brother Boy), referring to Nagaenthran’s nickname, ‘Boy’.
Immediate family members, relatives, and friends, including those from Johor, Kedah and Pahang, were in attendance at the ceremony held according to Hindu customs.
Also present were representatives from civil societies Suaram and Amnesty International, who were there to pay their last respects.
Nagaenthran’s body was carried around the housing area before being loaded into a hearse, and neighbours were standing in front of their houses to pay their last respects to him as his body was carried around the neighbourhood.
The hearse arrived at the Buntong Crematorium at 4pm.
Several men, including relatives, carried his coffin for about 50 metres from the entrance of the crematorium centre to the place of the cremation.
Traditional Indian percussion was also played during the short procession.
The cremation ritual and prayers by the priest and family members lasted about one hour.
Family members and relatives were seen wailing and crying while holding on to his coffin as a final gesture to say goodbye before his body was cremated.
The percussion also played again and some firecrackers were set off during the process.
Nagaenthran’s remains were finally cremated at 5pm
Nagaenthran’s family members did not speak to the media as they requested for privacy during the funeral process.
The family will likely collect Nagaenthran’s ashes on Monday and release it by the nearest river as per Hindu custom.