Samy Vellu
ச. சாமிவேலு
8 May 1995 – 18 March 2008
Salahuddin
Sirajuddin
Mizan Zainal Abidin
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Mohamed Khaled Nordin (1999–2004)
Mohd Zin Mohamed (2004–2008)
15 September 1979 – 15 June 1989
Iskandar
Azlan Shah
Nik Hussein Wan Abdul Rahman (1981–1983)
Zainal Abidin Zin (1983–1986)
Mustaffa Mohammad (1986–1987)
Luhat Wan (1987–1989)
15 June 1989 – 7 May 1995
Ja'afar
Tajol Rosli Mohd Ghazali (1990–1995)
12 October 1979 – 6 December 2010
G. Palanivel (2006-2010)
for Sungai Siput
16 September 1974 – 8 March 2008
5,141 (1978)
7,897 (1982)
4,436 (1986)
1,763 (1990)
15,610 (1995)
5,259 (1999)
10,349 (2004)
(1936-03-08)8 March 1936
Kluang, Johor, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
affiliations
Tun Samy Vellu s/o Sangalimuthu (Tamil: சாமிவேலு சங்கிலிமுத்து, romanized: Cāmivēlu Caṅkilimuttu; 8 March 1936 – 15 September 2022)[1] was a Malaysian politician who served as Minister of Works from June 1983 to June 1989 and again from May 1995 to March 2008, Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Posts from June 1989 to May 1995, Minister of Works and Public Amenities from September 1979 to June 1983 and Member of Parliament (MP) for Sungai Siput from September 1974 to March 2008. He was a member and served as 7th President of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, from October 1979 to December 2010. He is the longest-serving MIC president having held the position for 31 years and one of the longest-serving Cabinet ministers at 29 years. In December 2010, he announced his retirement from politics, paving the way for then MIC Deputy President G. Palanivel to succeed him as the new party president. [2]
Former MCA president Ling Liong Sik described Samy Vellu as a man of many talents and with a great sense of humour.[3]
Political career
Samy Vellu's political career began at the age of 23, in 1959, when he and Govindaraj joined the Batu Caves MIC branch. After five years, he was elected Selangor MIC committee member and the head of the party. He made headline news by climbing up the Indonesian embassy's flag pole, pulling down the flag and burning it. He was charged in court and fined RM2. He was called Hero Malaysia on the front pages.
He was a Member of Parliament for Sungai Siput constituency for eight terms from September 1974 to March 2008. During this time, from 1978 to 1979 he was Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing. Then from 1979 to 1989 he was Minister of Works. He then served as Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Posts from 1989 to 1995. From 1995 to March 2008 he was the Minister of Works until he lost his parliamentary seat to Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj of the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) who contested on the ticket of the People's Justice Party (PKR) in the March 2008 general election.[4][5]
He was the second longest serving minister in the country during his time, after Rafidah Aziz.
Samy Vellu was appointed Malaysia's Special Envoy of Infrastructure to India and Southern Asia, with ministerial rank, since 1 January 2011.[6] The appointment was terminated by the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in 2018.[7]
Personal life
Vellu was born in Kluang, Johor, and was of Indian descent. He was married to Indrani Samy Vellu and had one son.[8] He was a chartered architect and a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and of the Malaysian Institute of Architects.[citation needed]
Biography
A Life. A Legend. A Legacy written by Bernice Narayanan reveals Samy Vellu's achievements and setbacks as well as "behind-the-scenes" events in his almost 50 years of active politics.[9]
Election results
Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | P048 Sungei Siput, Perak | Samy Vellu (MIC) | 9,045 | 49.09% | Patto Perumal (DAP) | 8,401 | 45.59% | 18,529 | 644 | 77.87% | ||
Thang Pang Fay (PEKEMAS) | 877 | 4.76% | ||||||||||
RC Manavarayan (IND) | 103 | 0.56% | ||||||||||
1978 | Samy Vellu (MIC) | 12,930 | 62.41% | Ngan Siong Hing @ Ngan Siong Eng (DAP) | 7,789 | 37.59% | N/A | 5,141 | N/A | |||
1982 | Samy Vellu (MIC) | 14,930 | 64.56% | T. Sellapan (DAP) | 7,033 | 30.41% | 23,827 | 7,897 | 73.63% | |||
Ahmad Zawawi Ibrahim (PAS) | 1,164 | 5.03% | ||||||||||
1986 | P056 Sungai Siput, Perak | Samy Vellu (MIC) | 13,148 | 56.05% | Liew Sam Fong (DAP) | 8,712 | 37.14% | 24,566 | 4,436 | 69.32% | ||
Wan Hassan Wan Mahmud (SDP) | 1,597 | 6.81% | ||||||||||
1990 | Samy Vellu (MIC) | 14,427 | 53.25% | Patto Perumal (DAP) | 12,664 | 46.75% | 28,028 | 1,763 | 69.21% | |||
1995 | P059 Sungai Siput, Perak | Samy Vellu (MIC) | 21,283 | 71.86% | Lim Ah Guan @ Lim Soon Guan (DAP) | 5,673 | 19.15% | 30,552 | 15,610 | 67.66% | ||
Mohamed Hashim Salim (PAS) | 2,663 | 8.99% | ||||||||||
1999 | Samy Vellu (MIC) | 17,480 | 57.75% | Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (DAP)1 | 12,221 | 40.38% | 31,165 | 5,259 | 63.62% | |||
Mohamad Asri Othman (MDP) | 565 | 1.87% | ||||||||||
2004 | P062 Sungai Siput, Perak | Samy Vellu (MIC) | 19,029 | 62.19% | Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (PKR)2 | 8,680 | 28.37% | 31,583 | 10,349 | 67.51% | ||
Sanmugam Ponmugam Ponnan (DAP) | 2,890 | 9.44% | ||||||||||
2008 | Samy Vellu (MIC) | 14,637 | 44.15% | Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (PKR)2 | 16,458 | 49.64% | 33,154 | 1,821 | 69.91% | |||
Nor Rizan Oon (IND) | 864 | 2.61% |
Note: 1 & 2 Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj amid contesting under the tickets of DAP in the 1999 election and PKR in the 2004 and 2008 elections, is a member of PSM.
Honours
Honours of Malaysia
- Malaysia:
- Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) – Tun (2017)[12]
- Federal Territory (Malaysia):
- Grand Knight of the Order of the Territorial Crown (SUMW) – Datuk Seri Utama (2013)[13]
- Pahang:
- Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2004)[14]
- Perak:
- Commander of the Order of Cura Si Manja Kini (PCM) (1978)[15]
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (1989)[16]
- Johor:
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ) – Dato' (1980)
- Sarawak:
- Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – Dato Sri (2003)[17]
- Selangor:
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (DPMS) – Dato' (1979)[18]
Places named after him
- Jalan Tun Dr S Samy Vellu, a stretch of the Ipoh–Butterworth trunk road in Sungai Siput[19][20]
Notes
- ^ Minister of Works and Public Amenities (1979–1983)
References
- ^ Former Malaysian minister Samy Vellu dies, aged 86
- ^ Narayanan, Bernice (2010). A Life, a Legend, a Legacy: Dato' Seri S. Samy Vellu. BN Communications. p. 200. ISBN 9789834150563.
- ^ "Samy Vellu a man of many talents and great sense of humour, says Dr Ling". TheStarTV.com. 16 September 2022.
- ^ "Samy Vellu". NRIinternet.com. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ Retna, S. (9 March 2008). "End For Samy Vellu's Legacy After Historic Loss at Sg Siput". Bernama. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
- ^ "Samy Vellu Dilantik Duta Khas Infrastruktur Bagi India Dan Asia Pasifik". mStar (in Malay). 12 December 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ Justin Ong (7 July 2018). "Report: Putrajaya axing special envoys, advisers". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Samy Vellu". www.nriinternet.com. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "PM launches Samy Vellu's 'tell-all' biography". The Star. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
- ^ "Samy Vellu happy with Govt's recognition of his service". The Star Online. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ^ "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Sultan of Pahang's 74th birthday honours list". The Star Online. 26 October 2004. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ "PCM 1978". pingat.perak.gov.my.
- ^ "SPMP 1989". pingat.perak.gov.my.
- ^ "Mahathir Heads Sarawak Honours". www.thestar.com.my.
- ^ "DPMS 1979". awards.selangor.gov.my. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ "Road signs for 'Jalan Samy Vellu' to be up soon". The Star. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ "The late Samy Vellu gets name on Kuala Kangsar road". The Star. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
External links
- Malaysian Indian Congress' Website
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by | Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) President 12 October 1979 – 6 December 2010 | Succeeded by |
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- t
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- Mahathir Mohamad
- Lee San Choon
- V. Manickavasagam
- Hamzah Abu Samah
- Ong Kee Hui
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- Abdul Kadir Yusuf
- Aishah Ghani
- Abdul Taib Mahmud
- Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail
- Michael Chen Wing Sum
- Musa Hitam
- Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
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- Chong Hon Nyan
- Shariff Ahmad
- Mohamed Rahmat
- Richard Ho Ung Hun
- Paul Leong Khee Seong
- Abdul Manan Othman
- Leo Moggie Irok
- Neo Yee Pan
- Samy Vellu
- Mokhtar Hashim
- Rafidah Aziz
- Pengiran Othman Pengiran Rauf
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- Mohamed Nasir