Pakatan Harapan lost a key Melaka election worker on November 11 when J. Samivel died in a lorry collision along Jalan Pondok Batang.
The crash occurred at approximately noon outside the coalition’s main operations room for the Asahan state seat, The Vibes reported.
Samivel, 62, served as the PKR Alor Gajah deputy division chief and acted as a representative for PH candidate P. Denesh. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim paid tribute to the deceased political figure in a Facebook post, noting his long service and loyalty to the party’s struggle.
“Brother Samivel, the representative of the Harapan candidate for the Asahan state seat, was killed in a road accident this afternoon,” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Jasin district police chief Superintendent Lee Robert said that police received information about the accident at about 12.45pm. Initial investigations indicated that the car driven by Samivel collided with a lorry carrying fruit, according to RTM reports cited by Malay Mail.
The Melaka Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 12.22pm, dispatching rescuers who found Samivel trapped in the driver’s seat. Health Ministry personnel pronounced him dead at the scene before handing the body over to police.
Rescuers transferred Samivel’s body to the forensic unit of Jasin Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, Denesh rushed to the accident scene from Kampung Jus Permai, where he was conducting house visits and walkabouts when he heard the news.
Denesh is contesting the Asahan seat against the incumbent from Barisan Nasional, Datuk Dr Fairul Nizam Roslan. The PH Election Department described Samivel’s death as a great loss to his family, friends, and party members, thanking him for his hard work throughout the state election campaign.
Sinar Harian reported that Samivel operated as one of the backbones of Denesh’s election campaign. Social media reports initially sparked confusion by linking Denesh himself to the fatal crash, prompting the candidate to issue statements assuring voters of his safety, The Star reported.
Senior PKR leader Dr Gunarajah George travelled to Asahan to assist the family and the local campaign team during the aftermath of the tragedy. Pakatan’s election department urged the public to grant the family sufficient privacy to handle funeral arrangements.
J. Samivel was the 62-year-old PKR Alor Gajah deputy division chief and a representative for Pakatan Harapan Asahan candidate P. Denesh.
The collision occurred on November 11 at approximately noon along Jalan Pondok Batang in Jasin, directly in front of the PH main operations room for the Asahan seat.
P. Denesh is challenging the Barisan Nasional incumbent, Datuk Dr Fairul Nizam Roslan, in the Melaka state election.
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