Samy Vellu Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun
S. Samy Vellu
Native Name Lang:Tamil
Office:Minister of Works
Term Start:8 May 1995
Term End:18 March 2008
Primeminister:Mahathir Mohamad
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Deputy:Railey Jeffrey (1995–1999)
Mohamed Khaled Nordin (1999–2004)
Mohd Zin Mohamed (2004–2008)
Predecessor:Leo Moggie Irok
Successor:Mohd Zin Mohamed
Constituency:Sungai Siput
Monarch1:Ahmad Shah
Iskandar
Azlan Shah
Term Start1:15 September 1979
Term End1:15 June 1989
Primeminister1:Mahathir Mohamad
Deputy1:Clarence E. Mansul (1979–1981)
Nik Hussein Wan Abdul Rahman (1981–1983)
Zainal Abidin Zin (1983–1986)
Mustaffa Mohammad (1986–1987)
Luhat Wan (1987–1989)
Predecessor1:Lee San Choon
Successor1:Leo Moggie Irok
Constituency1:Sungai Siput
Office2:Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Posts
Monarch2:Azlan Shah
Ja'afar
Term Start2:15 June 1989
Term End2:7 May 1995
Primeminister2:Mahathir Mohamad
Deputy2:Abdul Ghani Othman (1989–1990)
Tajol Rosli Mohd Ghazali (1990–1995)
Predecessor2:Leo Moggie Irok
Successor2:Leo Moggie Irok as Minister of Energy, Communications and Multimedia
Constituency2:Sungai Siput
Office3:7th President of Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)
Term Start3:12 October 1979
Term End3:6 December 2010
Deputy3:Subramaniam Sinniah (1979-2006)
G. Palanivel (2006-2010)
Predecessor3:V. Manickavasagam
Successor3:G. Palanivel
Constituency Mp4:Sungai Siput
Parliament4:Malaysian
Term Start4:16 September 1974
Term End4:8 March 2008
Majority4:644 (1974)
5,141 (1978)
7,897 (1982)
4,436 (1986)
1,763 (1990)
15,610 (1995)
5,259 (1999)
10,349 (2004)
Predecessor4:V. T. Sambanthan (MIC)
Successor4:Michael Jeyakumar (PSM)
Birth Name:Samy Vellu s/o Sangalimuthu
Birth Date:8 March 1936
Birth Place:Kluang, Johor, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Death Place:Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Citizenship:Malaysian
Party:Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)
Otherparty:Barisan Nasional (BN)
Occupation:Politician
Profession:Architect
Spouse:Indrani Samy Vellu
Children:1

Tun Samy Vellu s/o Sangalimuthu (Tamil: சாமிவேலு சங்கிலிமுத்து|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.

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!
ConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout
1974P048 Sungei Siput, Perak (MIC)9,04549.09%Patto Perumal (DAP)8,40145.59%18,52964477.87%
Thang Pang Fay (PEKEMAS)8774.76%
RC Manavarayan (IND)1030.56%
1978 (MIC)12,93062.41%Ngan Siong Hing @ Ngan Siong Eng (DAP)7,78937.59%N/A5,141N/A
1982 (MIC)14,93064.56%T. Sellapan (DAP)7,03330.41%23,827 7,897 73.63%
Ahmad Zawawi Ibrahim (PAS)1,1645.03%
1986P056 Sungai Siput, Perak (MIC)13,14856.05%Liew Sam Fong (DAP)8,71237.14%24,5664,436 69.32%
bgcolor= Wan Hassan Wan Mahmud (SDP)1,5976.81%
1990 (MIC)14,42753.25%Patto Perumal (DAP)12,66446.75%28,0281,763 69.21%
1995P059 Sungai Siput, Perak (MIC)21,28371.86%Lim Ah Guan @ Lim Soon Guan (DAP)5,67319.15%30,55215,610 67.66%
Mohamed Hashim Salim (PAS)2,6638.99%
1999 (MIC)17,48057.75%Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (DAP)112,22140.38%31,165 5,259 63.62%
Mohamad Asri Othman (MDP)565 1.87%
2004P062 Sungai Siput, Perak (MIC)19,02962.19%Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (PKR)28,68028.37%31,58310,34967.51%
Sanmugam Ponmugam Ponnan (DAP)2,8909.44%
2008 (MIC)14,63744.15% (PKR)216,45849.64%33,1541,82169.91%
Nor Rizan Oon (IND)8642.61%
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

Places named after him

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/former-malaysian-minister-samy-vellu-dies-aged-86 Former Malaysian minister Samy Vellu dies, aged 86
  2. Book: Narayanan, Bernice. A Life, a Legend, a Legacy: Dato' Seri S. Samy Vellu. BN Communications. 2010. 9789834150563. 200.
  3. Web site: 2022-09-16 . Samy Vellu a man of many talents and great sense of humour, says Dr Ling . TheStarTV.com . en.
  4. Web site: Samy Vellu. 22 November 2010. 11 August 2014. NRIinternet.com.
  5. News: Retna . S. . End For Samy Vellu's Legacy After Historic Loss at Sg Siput . . 9 March 2008. 6 January 2010.
  6. News: Samy Vellu Dilantik Duta Khas Infrastruktur Bagi India Dan Asia Pasifik. mStar. 12 December 2010. ms. 7 February 2012.
  7. News: Report: Putrajaya axing special envoys, advisers. Justin Ong. 7 July 2018. The Malay Mail. 1 September 2018.
  8. Web site: Samy Vellu . 15 September 2022 . www.nriinternet.com.
  9. News: PM launches Samy Vellu's 'tell-all' biography. 10 December 2010. . 11 August 2014.
  10. Web site: Samy Vellu happy with Govt's recognition of his service. The Star Online. 10 September 2017. 28 September 2017.
  11. Web site: SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT. Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). 8 February 2021.
  12. Web site: Sultan of Pahang's 74th birthday honours list. 26 October 2004. 8 February 2018. The Star Online.
  13. Web site: PCM 1978. pingat.perak.gov.my.
  14. Web site: SPMP 1989. pingat.perak.gov.my.
  15. Web site: Mahathir Heads Sarawak Honours. www.thestar.com.my.
  16. Web site: DPMS 1979. awards.selangor.gov.my. 24 February 2022.
  17. Web site: Road signs for 'Jalan Samy Vellu' to be up soon. The Star. 29 March 2023. 29 March 2023.
  18. Web site: The late Samy Vellu gets name on Kuala Kangsar road. The Star. 31 March 2023. 31 March 2023.