Nhaveen's death receives international attention

The tragic news of the passing of student T. Nhaveen, who was brutally assaulted by a group of youths in Jalan Kaki Bukit in Georgetown, Penang last Saturday, received not only local but also international attention on the social media.

The 18-year old died at the Penang Hospital at 6pm Thursday.

Earlier yesterday, India's iconic music composer A. R. Rahman, who was Nhaveen's idol, posted on his Twitter:

"Dear Nhaveen, prayers & love for a speedy recovery. Let all acts of savagery end & people come to senses...Peace!" with replies to the tweet from the public informing Rahman of Nhaveen's death.

A Chennai-based online news portal in India also tweeted about Nhaveen, with the headline "This #Malaysian 'brain dead' teen wanted to be like #ARRahman."

Apart from that, a petition was started on www.change.org by R. Mukhesh entitled 'Justice For T. Nhaveen And For All Bullied Victims' that has so far gained 4,782 supporters.

A leading Tamil music director-cum-actor from India, Vijay Antony shared on his Facebook page the petition with the status 'RIP (Rest In Peace)'.

Malaysian actress Ida Nerina shared on her Facebook page: "My heart just got wrenched for the poor mothers of Nhaveen and Zul (Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain). Wrenched and twisted."

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also posted on his Twitter that justice and stern action would be taken over Nhaveen's death. Najib expressed his condolences to the teenager''s family.

Meanwhile, netizens such as Luqman Abdul Samad who goes by the Twitter handle @LuqmanSamad said "Late T. Nhaveen and allahyarham Farhan (Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain) could (have) become great musician and great soldier one day if they lived longer...RIP."

Another Twitter user, Sherlina or @sherlinakr said: "Rest in power, Nhaveen and Zulfarhan. May all of us look out for one another."

In the 2.10am incident at Jalan Kaki Bukit, Nhaveen and another person, aged 19, were buying burgers when they spotted two individuals known to them and they allegedly started mocking each other, before six others arrived.

Nhaveen and the teenager were believed to have been hit with crash helmets, as well as punched and kicked by the group before the teenager fled from the scene and informed his uncle on the incident.

-- BERNAMA