The Oldest Surviving Worker of the Death Railway Dies at 97

Arumugam Kandasamy: A Hero and a Legend

Arumugam Kandasamy, the oldest surviving worker of the infamous Death Railway between Siam and Burma during the Second World War, has passed away at the age of 97. His son, A Sudhagaran, revealed that his father died of old age at 3.26am today, after receiving treatment at a private hospital in Seremban.

A Life of Service and Sacrifice

Despite being nearly 100 years old, Arumugam was still cheerful and healthy, with a strong memory. His son noted that his father had been invited to give talks to students at several schools in the state, and was proud to share his experiences with the younger generation.

A Survivor of the Death Railway

Arumugam was among thousands of Tamils from estates in Malaya who were conscripted by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1942 to work on the 415km railway between Siam (now Thailand) and Burma (now Myanmar). The construction of the railway was infamous for its brutal conditions, with thousands of workers, including Indian labourers, Malays, Burmese, Indonesians, Indo-Chinese, and Javanese workers, buried in mass graves.

A Legacy of Love and Family

Arumugam is survived by 13 children, 38 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. His son described him as “our hero” who cared for the family after his mother, Kalayanee, died 16 years ago. “I am very grateful for the upbringing provided by both my parents, as all of us siblings have succeeded in our careers, including the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We will miss him dearly,” Sudhagaran said.

A Final Farewell

Family members and acquaintances will pay their last respects at the family home at Rumah Rakyat, Linggi Port Dickson. The cremation will take place tomorrow.