When I met Angelia Pranthaman and her brother Joshua in Singapore two years ago, they were still cheerful and upbeat. They had a couple of hours to kill before their bus back to Malaysia, a long journey they undertook as often as they could to visit their brother Pannir Selvam.

Growing up in a Christian, Indian-Malaysian family, Pannir's five brothers and sisters remember him as a playful, naughty boy who was always getting into trouble, but also a talented musician who played drums and guitar at their local church.

"He's also a bathroom singer: He always sings when he's in the shower, Malay songs," Angelia reminisced with a smile. "He'd put on his music, and the entire house would go boom-boom-boom!"

Like many Malaysians, Pannir crossed into Singapore for work. He often spent his earni

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