Samy Vellu

In this Indian name, the name Sangalimuthu is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Samy Vellu.
HE Amb. Dato' Seri
S. Samy Vellu
RIBA
7th President of Malaysian Indian Congress
In office
12 October 1979 – 6 December 2010
Deputy Subramaniam Sinniah (1979-2006)
G. Palanivel (2006-2010)
Preceded by V. Manickavasagam
Succeeded by G. Palanivel
Personal details
Born 20 June 1937
Kluang, Johor, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Political party Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) part of Barisan Nasional
Spouse(s) Indrani Samy Vellu

Dato' Seri Samy Vellu Sangalimuthu RIBA (born 20 June 1937) is a Malaysian Indian politician. He was the longest serving President of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), a component party of the Barisan Nasional coalition, holding the position since 1979, for 11 consecutive terms. He was the Works Minister of Malaysia and the longest serving minister in the Cabinet of Malaysia until he lost his parliamentary seat in the 2008 general elections. He has since announced his intended retirement in December 2010 even though his contract ends in January 2011 paving way to his present deputy Dato' G. Palanivel to succeed.[1]

Cabinet positions

He was first appointed to the Malaysian cabinet in 1979, as the Government and Housing Minister. He then went on to serve until 1989, as the Works Minister. From 1989 to 1995, he became Malaysia's Minister for Energy, Telecommunication and Post. In 1995, he returned to the Works Ministry, where he remained until he lost his parliamentary seat to Dr. D. Michael Jeyakumar in the March 2008 general election.

He was the second longest serving minister in the country after Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.

Currently, he holds the ministerial rank office as the Malaysian Special Envoy of Infrastructure to India and Southern Asia since 1 January 2011.[2]

Family

Samy Vellu is married to Indrani Samy Vellu, who is also active in socio-political and various non-governmental organisations.

Samy Vellu has one son, Vell Paari, 45, who currently manages MAIKA Holdings and is advisor of Putera MIC and MIC Youth. He has also been appointed as Chairman of Unity and Community Development of MIC by its Central Working Committee. His daughter-in-law, Shaila Nair, 33, is also active in Puteri MIC, a special wing of MIC dedicated to Indian women of Malaysia who are below 35 years of age.

Professional qualification

He is a chartered architect and a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and of the Malaysian Institute of Architect.

Political career

Samy Vellu's political career began at the age of 23, in 1959, he and Govindaraj joined the Batu Caves MIC branch. After 5 years, he was elected Selangor MIC committee member and the head of the party. His boldness, a disciplined and determined man made headlines 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

From 1974 to March 2008 he was a member of the House of Representatives of the Malaysian Parliament and from 1979 to December 2010 he was President of Malaysian Indian Congress and a partner in the ruling National Front Coalition. 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 for Malaysia. He then served as Minister of energy, Telecommunications and Posts, Malaysia for 1989 through 1995. From 1995 through March 2008 he was the Minister of Works for Malaysia until his lost of his parliamentary seat to Dr. D Michael Jeyakumar in March 2008 general election.[3]

A Life. A Legend. A Legacy

"A Life. A Legend. A Legacy" written by award-winning author Bernice Narayanan reveals Samy Vellu's greatest achievements and setbacks as well as "behind-the-scenes" events in his almost 50 years of active politics.The biography was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Narayanan, Bernice (2010). A Life, a Legend, a Legacy: Dato' Seri S. Samy Vellu. BN Communications. p. 200. ISBN 9789834150563.
  2. ↑ "Samy Vellu Dilantik Duta Khas Infrastruktur Bagi India Dan Asia Pasifik". mStar (in Malay). 12 December 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "Samy Vellu". NRIinternet.com. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "PM launches Samy Vellu’s ‘tell-all’ biography". 10 December 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2014.

External links