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.
Yang Berbahagia 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 (1936-03-08) 8 March 1936
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 8 March 1936) 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 from 1979 to 2010, for 11 consecutive terms. Beginning in 1979, he held a succession of ministerial portfolios in the Cabinet of Malaysia, including two long stints as Minister of Works, until he lost his parliamentary seat in the 2008 general election; by that time he was the longest-serving minister in the Cabinet. He subsequently announced his intended retirement in December 2010, paving the way for his deputy G. Palanivel to succeed him as party leader.[1]

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 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. 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 in the March 2008 general election.[2]

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

He has served as Malaysia's Special Envoy of Infrastructure to India and Southern Asia, with ministerial rank, since 1 January 2011.[3]

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.

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". NRIinternet.com. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Samy Vellu Dilantik Duta Khas Infrastruktur Bagi India Dan Asia Pasifik". mStar (in Malay). 12 December 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  4. ↑ "PM launches Samy Vellu's 'tell-all' biography". 10 December 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
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