Roy Rajasingam a/l C. Vallipuram ( 11/8/1951 – 9/5/2019)

Speech by Ms Chandrika Jaganathan at Reference Proceedings held on 20th August 2019 at Johor Bahru High Court

Tribute to the late Roy Rajasingam a/l C Vallipuram:

Mr Roy Rajasingham Vallipuram was born to Mr and Mrs Chelliah Vallipuram on 11th August 1951 in Klang, Selangor.

He had his early education in ACS Klang, and continued his studies in Johor Bahru, when the family moved south.  After his Form Five education, he started work as a clerk in General Motors, in Tampoi, Johor Bahru.

Observing the successful career of his elder brother, Mr Reginald Vallipuram, Roy was motivated to pursue law.  He then commenced his “A Levels” and took up law in the University of London in 1988.  He obtained his LLB degree in 1991.

He chambered with his brother, Mr Reginald from January 1993 to September 1993, and was called to the Malaysian Bar on 15th October 1993.

He worked as a Legal Assistant in his brother’s firm until 31st December 2006.  Thereafter he set up his own practice in the name and style of Roy & Associates.

Even though Roy had an active practice and was doing well as a litigator, his real passion was singing.  He loved singing Tamil songs, and whenever he had some spare time, or an opportunity presented itself, he would pursue his singing.

In fact, Mr Reginald states that Roy started singing in concerts in Johor Bahru from the age of 20.  During his student days in London, he took part in concerts there.  He took part in many concerts in various places locally and was well known as a proliferate singer of old Tamil songs amongst the Indian community here.

He had his own band, named Katharavan and even played the saxophone for Singapore Broadcasting Corporation and did many programs for them.

He then received invitations to perform in India, and to improve his diction, he even started taking Tamil classes, none other than from my mother, to obtain a sufficient command of the language.  He has performed in at least 2 major concerts in South India.

The highlights of his singing career was performing in Jotic auditorium a few years back with an entire band from India and singing duets with a very famous play back singer, P. Susheela.

Unfortunately, his legal and singing career suffered a serious set-back, when he fell and fractured his hip bone on 31st July 2018.  Although the fracture healed, he suffered from a peripheral neuropathy which affected his sleep pattern and general health seriously.

Around the end of April 2019, he fell ill due to an infection and had to be warded at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Johor Bahru.  On 9th May 2019 he passed away due to a sudden cardiac arrest.

Roy remained an eligible but not an available bachelor till the end.  He leaves behind his elder brothers, Mr Reginald and Richard and an elder sister, Margaret to mourn his loss.

He was a gentle and soft-spoken man. He always had a smile and a greeting for everyone.  His passing is a real loss to the legal fraternity and an even greater loss to the music community. 

May his soul rest in peace and the angels be serenaded by his melodious voice. 

Good-bye Roy.

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