S. Devadass

For most people to be remembered as kind, modest and good humoured would be enough. Few, however, would deserve it as Devadass — for he had a scholar's brain and the shrewdness which seem naturally to accompany a Malaysian spirit. But in the 24 years he lived following retirement, he willingly assumed the sort of painstaking tasks of research and record which might well have occupied much of his 79 years.

Having started his career in Kuala Lumpur, his work took him to Kuala Kubu Baru, Klang and eventually, Rawang. As chief clerk at the Gombak police headquarters in Rawang, Devadass was highly organised. He managed police files, including accident reports. Devadass kept track of lost-and-found items and fingerprint records, ran background checks and obtained files from other law enforcement agencies.

In short, he was the public face of the Gombak police department with his good inter-personal skills, including patience and the ability to listen. This he did with distinction until retirement and eventual death on Jan 22, aged 79.

Devadass drew a capacity congregation for his morning funeral mass at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Brickfields on Jan 24. The funeral Mass of Christan burial weaves together memories, remembrances and hope and there were plenty of these in the hour- long celebration. Concelebrated by Kuala Lumpur Archishop Julian Leow, Archbishops Emeriti Murphy Pakiam and Soter Fernandez and close to 30 priests, the main celebrant was, of course, his eldest son, Clarence. A former parish priest at the same church, he called on the congregation not to mourn the passing of his father but rather celebrate his life.