More than 200 people gathered at the St Mary's Cathedral in Kuala Lumpur today to pay their last respects to former DAP leader and unionist V David, 72, who passed away last night.

"He was a vocal spokesperson for the party and it is a great loss," said DAP deputy secretary-general M Kulasegaran.

Others present were Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, DAP MPs Teresa Kok and Dr Tan Seng Giaw as well as Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali and information chief Tian Chua.

In a statement earlier, Lim said Malaysia had lost a great son.

"David was a giant of a warrior for justice and freedom on the political and labour scene for the oppressed and the underdog for close for half a century," he said.

"His death is a great loss to the nation and the Malaysian people, leaving a big gap in the national political scene and trade union movement which would be difficult for anyone to fill," he added.

Recalling his involvement in politics, former Selangor DAP treasurer T Kannan said David had been active in politics for the past 40 years.

Youngest MP

He began his political career in the Socialist Front.

"He was elected as a Kuala Lumpur municipal councilor in 1958. In 1959, he was elected as a member of parliament for the Bangsar constituency at the age of 27.

"He was then the youngest member of parliament," said Kannan, who was at the memorial service.

David later won a Penang state seat under the Gerakan banner. In 1969, he was elected DAP MP for Damansara.

David was also the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general from 1976 to 1992 and a former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee, not once but three times.

He was elected as DAP MP for Puchong for two terms beginning in 1986.

David, 73, died at 8.20pm at the Assunta Hospital in Petaling Jaya after suffering a stroke. He leaves behind wife Grace Sivapakiam (photo), 63 and son Norman, 22.

His remains were later cremated at the Cheras Crematorium at 4.30pm.

In V David's own words

On human rights

The Internal Security Act hands like the sword of Damocles over the head of every leader who takes the liberty to criticise the government and its policies.

On democracy

We hold that no man has any right to dictate to another what religion he shall believe, what philosophy he shall hold, what shall be his politics or what view of history he shall accept.

On national harmony

We have yet to understand how a multiracial society can develop when the government itself is desirous to continue with racial politics. Racial equality and unity are the twin carburetors of national harmony.

On corruption

It is commonly accepted axiom that 'power tames and corrupts' but the crux of the problem lies in who it tames and who it corrupts.

Source: 'Freedom That Never Came' by V David, 1989