Two sides to private life of Arumugam
(NST) SUNGAI PETANI: "I have suffered enough and I am mentally disturbed!"
That was the response from the wife of former Parti Keadilan Rakyat Bukit Selambau assemblyman and state exco member V. Arumugam, when approached by the New Straits Times here yesterday.
Speaking in fluent English after opening slightly the wooden door of her moderately renovated low-cost house in Taman Nuri, the woman also politely asked that her family be left alone.
Parked under her little porch was a silver Perodua Kelisa and a Honda EX-5 motorcycle. In one corner, some women's clothes were hung out to dry.
The woman, named by neighbours as Banumathy, in her 40s, responded again through the slightly ajar door, when asked if her husband had contacted her recently.
"No, no," she said, adding that she did not know where he was.
Checks with family friends later revealed that Banumathy was employed as a production operator at a Japanese multinational in Bakar Arang.
It is learnt that she and her 17-year-old son have been living at the housing estate for several years.
At Arumugam's posh single-storey bungalow at nearby Kelab Cinta Sayang, showed signs it had been hastily abandoned.
Litter and dried leaves were strewn in the large compound. Under the porch was an old sofa, a bicycle and a blue Modenas Kriss motorcycle. In one corner was an altar in a cabinet.
Some of the neighbours said they had not seen Arumugam for almost a week. They last saw his official Proton Perdana V6 parked under the porch on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, Merbok PKR Youth division member T. Rames Kumar said he and many party members were still reeling from Arumugam's sudden resignation.
"We did not know he was having personal problems since he appeared happy each time we met him at official functions organised by the division, of which he is deputy chairman."
A check at Arumugam's office at Wisma Darul Aman showed that his personal belongings had been removed. His service centre in Taman Ria Jaya was padlocked.
Arumugam has been missing since Thursday and he had only informed Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak of his resignation through a third party on Monday.
He has yet to contact Azizan personally over his resignation as exco member and state assemblyman.
Several close associates claimed that Arumugam had left for Chennai with another woman and a child on Monday. Others said he could be in Penang or Kuala Lumpur.
