The late Mr. Appana, played an active role as the neighbourhood committee chairman and also held the position of MIC Branch Chairman for Kg. Medan Luar. Born in 1944, in an estate in Kuala Selangor the late Mr. Appana was married with three children. He moved to Old Klang Road when he was 35 year’s old, where he remained till he retired. Being an active person in nature, he continued working as a gardener at a private nursery in Subang Jaya.
Dr. Denison Jayasooria, the Executive Director of YSS met him for the first time in 1997. He was immediately impressed with Mr. Appana as he was a man who always wanted to serve his community. With the assistance of YB Dato’ Seri S. Samy Vellu, Mr. Appana and his committee members built a small community hall for the benefit of the local people in his area.
In the political realm, he played an active role, always keeping in mind the welfare of the 62 families under his care in Kg. Medan Luar. He personally knew the details of each family, their background and took the trouble to keep a good working relation with all his fellow community members. He was well known among with Selangor States Council Members and the State Exco member for Taman Medan, YB Nurkhaila and PJ Selatan MP, YB Donald Lim who remembers him as a man with a heart for the people. His professionalism was also seen in his good relationship with the local Malays leaders and non-Indian local community.
Besides being a full time politician, he was also an active partner of YSS. He was very committed and supportive of every activity carried out at Kg. Medan Luar by YSS. Mr. Appana exhibited an exceptional amount of ownership and responsibility in organizing the eight social based activities entrusted to him for his community in 2002. He always reminded me, “All parent’s should stress the importance of education for their children to avoid them going through hardships in future”. He always requested YSS to organize more student motivational and educational programmes for the benefit of the local student community.
His demise is a great loss, not just for us at YSS, as we have lost such a valuable partner, but also to the Indian community and the MIC because of the exceptional qualities and the passion he had for his people. We will always remember him through his contributions and his dedication. May God bless his soul.
(Submitted on 17th March 2003)
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