Farewell Kevin, your work is done, says AGC colleague at funeral
BY ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH
Published: 3 October 2015 3:16 PM
A portrait of the late Kevin Morais is displayed during his mass funeral at Church of Divine Mercy in Shah Alam today. – The Malaysian Insider by Najjua Zulkefli, October 3, 2015.
In a packed church in Shah Alam today, the funeral service for slain deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais went on although his remains were still in the Kuala Lumpur Hospital mortuary.
Hundreds, including family members, friends and colleagues from the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), the Malaysian Bar and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), attended the service to pay their last respects to Morais.
Father Simon Labrooy gave the homily in the two-hour service, which ended with the presentations of the eulogies.
Many were seen wiping tears when the eulogies were given by both his colleague Manoj Kurup and his cousin Desmond Louis.
"Kevin and I have been in the service for 20 to 25 years. But I only got to know him when he became my deputy in July last year," said Kurup.
"His reputation for courage, education and helping out his colleagues preceded him. Most of us can't believe the fate that befell him."
David Morais (centre) receives condolences for the death of his brother during the funeral service. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 3, 2015.
Morais was abducted on September 4 and his body was found 12 days later in a cement-filled oil drum.
Six men were on Monday charged with murder and an army doctor was charged with abetment over the killing of Morais.
Last week, a wake was held as scheduled for Morais although the body was still unclaimed.
The family has refused to claim his remains from the mortuary as they want the cause of death to be ascertained before cremating the body.
The first post-mortem could not reveal what killed Morais but the AGC has approved the family's request for a second one to be performed.
"Not a day has gone by that I don't think of the circumstances of his death. But after that, I told myself that I should be celebrating his life," said Kurup.
"Kevin was always witty. If you teased him, he would either be quiet, or his response would be 'podah' or 'shut up'," he went on, as those in the audience laughed.
The person he wanted to remember, Kurup said, was one who would call him “rascal” if any word of praise was given to him.
Kevin Morais's brother Datuk Richard Morais (right) is comforted by friends after the funeral service in Shah Alam. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 3, 2015.
"Dear Kevin, we assure you that we resolve to serve this nation with the love and care you have shown. Knowing what you went through has given us the strength to carry on as we will never let evil prevail.
"His death has renewed the zeal that justice has to be done, not only for Kevin but for every victim who has suffered.
"You are our hero. Your work here is done. You are free of the earthly pain. We are all very much richer having known you," Kurup said in his moving eulogy.
Overcome with grief, several of Morais's colleagues, with tears streaming down their faces, dashed out of the church sanctuary as Kurup spoke about his fallen colleague.
Louis, meanwhile, reminisced about his childhood days with Morais and his brothers, growing up in Kluang, Johor and Ipoh, Perak.
"He was a shy, quiet, soft-spoken, unassuming guy who shunned the limelight. I can imagine him saying, 'Oh God Des, what's all this fuss about'," he said, referring to the funeral service.
"But some fuss is needed for this man who was articulate, hard-working, skillful, ethical, dedicated to his job," he added.
Louis said Morais's father was a prosecuting officer in the licensing department of Radio Television Malaysia.
"I believe Kevin had gotten the law bit from his father.
"A lawyer I met in Ipoh some 15 years back, remembered my cousin as a fearless judicial officer," he said.
Morais served as DPP with the MACC for 10 years until he returned to the Attorney-General’s Chambers in July last year.
His youngest brother, Datuk Richard Morais and his other siblings - Charles and David - were seen hugging relatives, friends and well-wishers after the service.
Richard, however, declined to speak with the press, saying he had nothing to say. – October 3, 2015
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hundreds-attend-kevin-morais-funeral-but-body-still-at-mortuary#sthash.CW56nDti.dpuf
In a packed church in Shah Alam today, the funeral service for slain deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais went on although his remains were still in the Kuala Lumpur Hospital mortuary.
Hundreds, including family members, friends and colleagues from the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), the Malaysian Bar and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), attended the service to pay their last respects to Morais.
Father Simon Labrooy gave the homily in the two-hour service, which ended with the presentations of the eulogies.
Many were seen wiping tears when the eulogies were given by both his colleague Manoj Kurup and his cousin Desmond Louis.
"Kevin and I have been in the service for 20 to 25 years. But I only got to know him when he became my deputy in July last year," said Kurup.
"His reputation for courage, education and helping out his colleagues preceded him. Most of us can't believe the fate that befell him."
David Morais (centre) receives condolences for the death of his brother during the funeral service. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 3, 2015.Morais was abducted on September 4 and his body was found 12 days later in a cement-filled oil drum.
Six men were on Monday charged with murder and an army doctor was charged with abetment over the killing of Morais.
Last week, a wake was held as scheduled for Morais although the body was still unclaimed.
The family has refused to claim his remains from the mortuary as they want the cause of death to be ascertained before cremating the body.
The first post-mortem could not reveal what killed Morais but the AGC has approved the family's request for a second one to be performed.
"Not a day has gone by that I don't think of the circumstances of his death. But after that, I told myself that I should be celebrating his life," said Kurup.
"Kevin was always witty. If you teased him, he would either be quiet, or his response would be 'podah' or 'shut up'," he went on, as those in the audience laughed.
The person he wanted to remember, Kurup said, was one who would call him “rascal” if any word of praise was given to him.
Kevin Morais's brother Datuk Richard Morais (right) is comforted by friends after the funeral service in Shah Alam. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 3, 2015."Dear Kevin, we assure you that we resolve to serve this nation with the love and care you have shown. Knowing what you went through has given us the strength to carry on as we will never let evil prevail.
"His death has renewed the zeal that justice has to be done, not only for Kevin but for every victim who has suffered.
"You are our hero. Your work here is done. You are free of the earthly pain. We are all very much richer having known you," Kurup said in his moving eulogy.
Overcome with grief, several of Morais's colleagues, with tears streaming down their faces, dashed out of the church sanctuary as Kurup spoke about his fallen colleague.
Louis, meanwhile, reminisced about his childhood days with Morais and his brothers, growing up in Kluang, Johor and Ipoh, Perak.
"He was a shy, quiet, soft-spoken, unassuming guy who shunned the limelight. I can imagine him saying, 'Oh God Des, what's all this fuss about'," he said, referring to the funeral service.
"But some fuss is needed for this man who was articulate, hard-working, skillful, ethical, dedicated to his job," he added.
Louis said Morais's father was a prosecuting officer in the licensing department of Radio Television Malaysia.
"I believe Kevin had gotten the law bit from his father.
"A lawyer I met in Ipoh some 15 years back, remembered my cousin as a fearless judicial officer," he said.
Morais served as DPP with the MACC for 10 years until he returned to the Attorney-General’s Chambers in July last year.
His youngest brother, Datuk Richard Morais and his other siblings - Charles and David - were seen hugging relatives, friends and well-wishers after the service.
Richard, however, declined to speak with the press, saying he had nothing to say. – October 3, 2015
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hundreds-attend-kevin-morais-funeral-but-body-still-at-mortuary#sthash.CW56nDti.dpuf
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