News

Sunday January 27, 2013

Vello more than just a personal lawyer to Tunku


GEORGE TOWN: He drafted the will of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj but N.T. Vello (pic) was more than just a personal lawyer to our first Prime Minister.

His youngest son Selvin Vijenraj, 35, fondly remembers the close friendship his father had with Tunku.

He said Tunku would never miss celebrating Deepavali at their house and that they would also visit Tunku's house during Hari Raya.

“Tunku even brought his own chair and placed it in our house so he could sit on it whenever he came by. We still keep it to this day.

“I'll also never forget the moment Tunku and I had a joint birthday celebration at his former residence in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. I was about 10 years old then,” he said at his home in Taman Jesselton.

Vello, 84, died peacefully at 11.30am on Friday, a day shy of his birthday and wedding anniversary.

He suffered from renal failure years ago and was involved in a road accident recently.

Married to Patsie Khoo Siew Eng, the granddaughter of Chung Thye Pin, who was the last Kapitan China of Perak, Vello leaves behind three sons Quintin Jeyaraj, Ravin Mohanraj and Selvin.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story
  • Bookmark and Share