- In this Indian name, the name "Veerasamy" is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, "Sambanthan". Indian family names are based on a variety of systems and Naming conventions, which vary from region to region A patronym, is a component of a Personal name based on the name of one's father A family name or last name is a type of Surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs The abbreviations "s/o" or "d/o", if used, mean "son of" or "daughter of" respectively.
| Tun V. T. Sambanthan | |
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5th President of the Malaysian Indian Congress
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| In office May, 1955 – 30 June 1973 |
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| Preceded by | K.L. Devaser |
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| Succeeded by | Tan Sri V. Manickavasagam |
| Majority | Indian |
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Member of Parliament
for Sungai Siput |
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| In office 27 July 1955 – 30 June 1973 |
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| Preceded by | new constituency |
| Succeeded by | Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu |
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| Born | 16 June 1919 Sungai Siput, Perak |
| Died | 18 May 1979 (aged 59) |
| Political party |  Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) |
| Spouse | Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan |
| Children | Deva Kunjari |
| Occupation | MIC Chairman Minister in the Malaysian cabinet |
| Religion | Hindu |
Sambanthan Thirunyana s/o Veerasamy, better known as Tun V. The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC or Kongres India Se-Malaysia MAY ( also known as: Mei メイ 메이 is a Korean singer well known in South Korea for singing the song "Miracle" Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Kundan Lal Devaser was the fourth president of the Malayan Indian Congress from 1951 - 1955 Tan Sri V Manickavasagam is the sixth president of the Malaysian Indian Congress from 1973&ndash1978 Malaysian Indians are a group of Malaysians largely descended from those who migrated from southern India during the British colonization Sungai Siput is a town and also a parliamentary constituency in Kuala Kangsar district Perak, Malaysia. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately Events 1487 - Battle of Stoke Field, the last dying breath of the Wars of the Roses. Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Sungai Siput is a town and also a parliamentary constituency in Kuala Kangsar district Perak, Malaysia. Perak is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC or Kongres India Se-Malaysia Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan née Subramaniam is the wife of the late Tun V A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical T. Sambanthan, was the fifth President of Malaysian Indian Congress and one of the Founding Fathers of Malaysia along with Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tan Cheng Lock. The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC or Kongres India Se-Malaysia For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Sir Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, CH ( February 8 1903 &ndash December 6 Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock ( was a Malaysian Chinese businessman and a key public figure who devoted his life to fighting for the rights and the social welfare of the Chinese He was the MIC President from 1955 to 1973, when he was ousted by party members.
Sambanthan was one of the leading Indian leaders who played a prominent role in the independence movement in Malaya. As president of the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC) during this important period of transition, he worked closely with Alliance Party leader Tunku Abdul Rahman and they developed a close personal bond. The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC or Kongres India Se-Malaysia
He is credited with three important developments in Malaysian political history: the consolidation of the Malayan (now Malaysian) Indian Congress, its transformation into a mass-based party, and its integral role as a partner in the current ruling alliance.
The entry of the MIC into the multi-communal Alliance in 1955 contributed greatly to enhancing the coalition’s image as the main representative of the three main communities in Malaya. Barisan Nasional ( National Front or BN) is a major political Coalition in Malaysia.
The finest hour was achieved on August 31, 1957 when Independence was achieved under the Merdeka Agreement, to which Sambanthan was a signatory. Events 1056 - Byzantine Empress Theodora becomes ill dying suddenly a few days later without children to succeed the Throne Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Hari Merdeka ( Independence Day) is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial
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Background
Sambanthan's father, M. S. Veerasamy, came to Malaya in the 1890s, was a pioneer rubber planter in Sungai Siput, Perak and owned several rubber plantations. British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula that were colonized by the British from the 18th and the 19th until the 20th century Sungai Siput is a town and also a parliamentary constituency in Kuala Kangsar district Perak, Malaysia. Perak is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Sambanthan was born in Sungai Siput in 1919. Sungai Siput is a town and also a parliamentary constituency in Kuala Kangsar district Perak, Malaysia. His siblings were V. M. Sundram, V. Krishnan and V. Saraswathy.
Sambanthan received his early education at Clifford High School in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. Kuala Kangsar (population 39300 is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia, located at the mouth of Kangsar River, where it flows into the Perak River Perak is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of A keen sportsman, Sambanthan was an intelligent student who loved to chat and joke, said former Lord President Tun Mohamed Suffian. Tun Mohamed Suffian Hashim ( November 12 1917 &ndash September 26 2000) was a Malaysian judge eventually serving as
Sambanthan continued his studies in economics at the highly respected Annamalai University in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. Annamalai University is a '''State university''' in Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Chidambaram is a Municipality and taluk ( Tehsil) headquarters in the Cuddalore district Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country His interest in politics is said to have been triggered while studying in India as he closely followed the rise of the Indian nationalist movement.
He even took part in some of the protests led by the Quit India Movement against the British and was injured in one instance. The Quit India Movement (Bharat Chhodo Andolan or the August Movement) was a Civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in
He subscribed to the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence in achieving independence and was attracted to the political ideas of independence fighter Subash Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru who later became the first prime minister of independent India. Gandhism (or Gandhianism) is a collection of inspirations principles beliefs and philosophy of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (known as Mahatma Gandhi who was Subhas Chandra Bose (সুভাষ চন্দ্র বসু (born January 23, 1897; presumed to have died August 18, 1945 Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू ʤəʋäɦəɾläl nɛɦɾu (14 November 1889 27 May 1964 was a major political leader of the Congress Party India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country
Not surprisingly, he become involved with the Youth Wing of the Indian National Congress. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. The ethnicity and sectionalism in Indian society troubled him and this was to influence his later advocacy of racial tolerance, harmony and cooperation in Malayan politics.
When his father died in 1942, Sambanthan was stuck in India as World War II raged. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including When the war ended, he returned to Malaya in 1946 and took over the management of the family business that included vast rubber plantations. British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula that were colonized by the British from the 18th and the 19th until the 20th century
He took a keen interest in the welfare of the estate community, developing a close rapport with them. He was particularly concerned with the rate of illiteracy among Indians in the estates and devoted much time and energy to introduce schooling. Malaysian Indians are a group of Malaysians largely descended from those who migrated from southern India during the British colonization
In 1954, he built the Mahatma Gandhi Tamil School in Sungai Siput with some assistance from the Senior Inspector of Schools, a British official. Sungai Siput is a town and also a parliamentary constituency in Kuala Kangsar district Perak, Malaysia.
His efforts to raise the education level of the Indians drew the attention of the authorities and he was appointed a member of the Board of Councillors by the Perak State Education Department.
Political career
Early Involvement
Sambanthan, with the intention of creating a more cohesive and unified Indian community, organised the Perak United Indian Council in 1953, the same year he was elected Perak MIC chairman. The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC or Kongres India Se-Malaysia
However, the event that helped catapult Sambanthan to the forefront of MIC politics was a visit by Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, the younger sister of the then Indian prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Vijaya Lakshmi Nehru Pandit (विजयलक्ष्मी नेहरू पंडित (1900 - 1990 was an Indian Diplomat and Politician, sister Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू ʤəʋäɦəɾläl nɛɦɾu (14 November 1889 27 May 1964 was a major political leader of the Congress Party Sambanthan had befriended her when he was involved with the Indian National Congress while studying at Annamalai University. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. Annamalai University is a '''State university''' in Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
On his invitation, she visited Malaya in 1954 and despite the ongoing communist insurgency, visited Sungai Siput where she officially opened the Mahatma Gandhi Tamil School. The Federation of Malaya (Persekutuan Tanah Melayu was a federation of 11 states formed on January 31 1948 from the nine Malay states and the British Sungai Siput is a town and also a parliamentary constituency in Kuala Kangsar district Perak, Malaysia. The meeting between Sambanthan and Vijaya Lakshmi in 1954 helped push the former into the limelight and then on to the party president’s position in 1955.
In the same year, he was elected member of the legislative council for the Kinta Utara constituency. The constituency was renamed in 1959 as the Sungai Siput seat. Sungai Siput is a town and also a parliamentary constituency in Kuala Kangsar district Perak, Malaysia.
Becoming MIC President
In the post World War II period, the Indian professional elite was largely held together by the unifying ideology of Indian nationalism. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including In 1946, the Indian elite in Malaya formed the MIC. For the first eight years, the MIC leaders were either North Indian or Malayalee, representing a minority among the Indians. The majority of Indians (90%) in Malaya at that time were South Indians, mainly from the labouring class.
The Emergency (declared by the British in 1948 to battle communist insurgency) regulations and new trade union legislation also led to the leadership of the trade union movement passing from the Chinese, who were much better organised, to the Indians. Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based Malaysian Chinese is a Malaysian of Chinese origin Most are descendants of Chinese who arrived between the fifteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries Malaysian Indians are a group of Malaysians largely descended from those who migrated from southern India during the British colonization This dilution of the MIC's objectives impacted on the status of Indian plantation workers in the Malaysian economy then and its repercussions are still being felt today.
In 1954, there were serious debates within the MIC as to whether the party should join the UMNO-MCA Alliance that was emerging as the leading political movement in the country, following their successes in local elections. The United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO, (Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu is a Right-wing party and Malaysia 's largest Political Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA ( Cantonese: MaLoiSaiYa WahYen KoongWui; Persatuan Cina Malaysia The MIC had aligned itself with Datuk Onn Jaafar’s Independence of Malaya Party and later Party Negara, and there was a rethink within the MIC leadership during this period. Dato' Sir Onn bin Ja'afar ( 1895 - January 19, 1962) was a Malay Politician and a Menteri Besar ( Chief The Independence of Malaya Party was a political party in British -ruled Malaya that stood for political Independence.
According to Rajeswary Ampalavanar, author of The Indian Minority and Political Change in Malaya 1954-1957, the MIC leadership was quite eager to join the Alliance but there was some resistance within the party’s broader membership. Barisan Nasional ( National Front or BN) is a major political Coalition in Malaysia. They were willing to support the move if the party could secure some concessions from the Alliance on inter-communal issues, particularly on education.
Then MIC president K.L. Devaser came under heavy criticism from the Tamil media for not addressing the pressing issues facing the community. Kundan Lal Devaser was the fourth president of the Malayan Indian Congress from 1951 - 1955 Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. While he was quite outspoken, his influence was largely among the urban-based Indian elite and he lacked wider grassroots support.
Some in the party felt that there was a need for a leader with a stronger relationship with the party’s grassroots. In March 1955, reports in the local daily Tamil Murasu urged Tamils to boycott the MIC.
Sambanthan, then a state MIC leader, emerged during this period as an alternative candidate for the party leadership. Going by historical records, he was literally coerced into taking up the presidency. Another candidate, P. P. Narayanan, was approached by party leaders but turned down their invitation because he wanted to concentrate on union activities.
Sambanthan initially declined but following some pressure from the Tamil leaders agreed to take on the party leadership. He was duly elected the fifth president of the MIC in May 1955. Sambanthan was also acceptable to the Malay leadership because he played down political (and to some extent, economic) rights in favour of cultural and language rights.
Becoming a Tamil party
The MIC's main challenge was to reconcile the political aspirations of the middle class with the poverty and needs of the labouring class, who in 1938 comprised 84% of the plantation labour force. The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC or Kongres India Se-Malaysia Sambanthan started a recruitment campaign among plantation workers, relying on patronage of Hinduism in its popular South Indian form, increased use and fostering of the Tamil language, and Tamil cultural activities. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent.
But the MIC under Sambanthan failed to reconcile the needs of labour with the political aspirations of the middle class. The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC or Kongres India Se-Malaysia The traditionalists and the lower middle class strengthened their hold within the party, while the upper class professionals and the intelligentsia moved away from it. Subsequently, two paths to leadership emerged among the Indians - political and trade union - with very little interaction between them.
Under Sambanthan's leadership, the MIC effectively became a Tamil party. The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC or Kongres India Se-Malaysia Sambanthan served as president of the MIC from 1955-71 and was largely responsible for the transformation of the party from an active, political organisation to a conservative, traditional one, emphasising Indian culture, religion and language.
It was also the weakest of the three main political parties. It had the smallest electorate - 7. 4% in 1959; and it had little support from the Indian community at large.
Since the Indian community was geographically dispersed and divided, it comprised less than 25% in any constituency. Therefore, the MIC's overriding concern was to remain a partner in the Alliance (the UMNO-MCA-MIC Alliance that had won the first elections in 1955, and that was subsequently renamed Barisan Nasional) and obtain whatever concessions it could from the dominant UMNO. The United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO, (Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu is a Right-wing party and Malaysia 's largest Political Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA ( Cantonese: MaLoiSaiYa WahYen KoongWui; Persatuan Cina Malaysia The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC or Kongres India Se-Malaysia Barisan Nasional ( National Front or BN) is a major political Coalition in Malaysia. The United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO, (Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu is a Right-wing party and Malaysia 's largest Political In the process, political and economic rights of workers were sacrificed.
Sambanthan, while as MIC president, helped strengthen the party economically by selling about half of his father’s 2. 4 km² rubber estate to help the Indian community as well as to provide financial strength to the party coffers.
Sambanthan took over the mantle of the MIC during a period of turmoil in the party in 1955, barely months before the first federal elections, and over time strengthen the party and consolidated its position in the coalition. He did not always please his members, but was able to gradually unite a party that had considerable internal splits.
First Federal Elections
The year 1955 was a milestone for Malaya’s advance towards self-governance. The British colonial administration had agreed to hold the first federal elections in July 1955 and Sambanthan was instantly thrown into the cauldron of electoral politics.
He met the new challenge and following negotiations with the Alliance leaders the MIC was allocated two seats – in Batu Pahat, Johor, and Sungai Siput, Perak. Batu Pahat district lies south-east of Muar, south-west of Kluang, north-west of Pontian, and south of Segamat and the new Ledang district Johor (alt English spelling Johore, Jawi scriptجوهر is a state of Malaysia between 1°20"N and 2°35"N Sungai Siput is a town and also a parliamentary constituency in Kuala Kangsar district Perak, Malaysia. Perak is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Sambanthan contested the Sungai Siput seat and won comfortably. Sungai Siput is a town and also a parliamentary constituency in Kuala Kangsar district Perak, Malaysia.
The Alliance swept 51 of the 52 seats, the exception being a seat in Perak. Following the election win, Sambanthan was appointed to the Cabinet and sworn in as Labour Minister in the Alliance government. Barisan Nasional ( National Front or BN) is a major political Coalition in Malaysia.
The coalition decided to push for a quicker transfer of power and an Alliance delegation went to London in January 1956 to hold talks on a range of issues, including independence, with Secretary of State Alan Lennox-Boyd. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.
Sambanthan did not accompany the delegation to London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. He declared that he was confident Tunku Abdul Rahman would be able to represent Malayan interests effectively. Sir Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, CH ( February 8 1903 &ndash December 6 It was also a personal gesture of his confidence in Tunku’s leadership. Sambanthan was criticised for this decision by his party officials. Nevertheless, when the final constitutional negotiations were held in London in May 1957, Sambanthan was very involved.
Merdeka Negotiations
Earlier, in 1956, Sambanthan led the MIC delegation in the negotiations between the Alliance parties in drawing up a memorandum to be presented to the Reid Commission. The Reid Commission was an independent commission responsible for drafting the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya prior to Malayan independence from Britain
Sambanthan was a pragmatic negotiator and worked hard to secure the interests of the Indian community, while at the same time being sensitive to the broader interests of the Alliance party’s diverse membership.
He was at times criticised by his party members for conceding on certain issues, but Sambanthan was faced with the need to find a suitable balance to the various sectoral demands and sought to take a middle path in the negotiations. For taking such as position, he was praised by the Tunku.
The final constitutional negotiations in London in May 1957 also saw a personal transformation in Sambanthan. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. While in London for the constitutional talks, Tunku Abdul Rahman decided that Sambanthan needed new attire. Sir Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, CH ( February 8 1903 &ndash December 6
Sambanthan had caused some controversy when he wore a dhoti upon being elected into the Federal Legislative Council – a practice deemed taboo during the British period. The Federal Legislative Council was the legislative body of Federation of Malaya and the predecessor of the Malaysian Parliament. A taboo is a strong Social prohibition (or ban) against words objects actions or discussions that are considered undesirable or offensive by a group culture But Sambanthan defended his choice, arguing: “It makes the average man feel happier. ” Even after the elections in 1955, when he was appointed Minister of Labour, his traditional Indian attire remained intact.
Thus when in London, Tunku decided that something must be done. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. As the Tunku describes in his book Looking Back: “When walking with me in London, he was always trailing behind because he could not step out far enough to keep pace with me; or perhaps I walked faster on purpose. One day when we were out for a walk, I led him into Simpson’s men’s store in Piccadilly. On reaching there, I said: ‘Come in; I want to choose a new suit’, so he followed me inside.
”I asked the tailor to fit Sambanthan with a good ready-made suit. He protested, but only briefly, accepting the inevitability, and came out a new man in a new suit – West-End tailored, new shirt, new tie, new shoes and socks. ”
The Tunku noted that after that incident, Sambanthan was not satisfied with just one suit and secretly went out to buy several more.
During the debate on the draft Constitution at the Federal Legislative Council on July 10, 1957, Sambanthan urged greater co-operation between the communities, reminding them that Malaya was a plural society. He told the council:
| “ | We belong to a plural society, and we should always remember that in such a society we have to recognise that psychology has its own place. It is not enough if one’s own attitude towards a problem is good. It is necessary that he should see what reaction, what effect it would have on members of different communities. | ” |
Working with the Tunku
The MIC's success in the early years was due to the close personal friendship between Malaysia's first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, and Sambanthan. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Sir Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, CH ( February 8 1903 &ndash December 6 For his part, Sambanthan ran the MIC as a largely informal party, in deference to Umno, rather than as a political party with definite programmes. The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC or Kongres India Se-Malaysia
In effect, it became a vehicle for distributing patronage (senate and legislative votes, nominations for decorations and awards, licences) to supporters, furnishing the Indian Malaysian vote, and an instrument for the leadership to entrench its role. Malaysian Indians are a group of Malaysians largely descended from those who migrated from southern India during the British colonization But patronage was always in short supply and, eventually, rising dissatisfaction with Sambanthan led to a prolonged leadership crisis in the party.
Working with Tun Abdul Razak
When Tun Abdul Razak Hussein succeeded Tunku Abdul Rahman as Malaysia's prime minister, the MIC was forced to become much more responsive to the dictates of UMNO. For other individuals named Abdul Razak, or some variation thereof see Abdul Razak (disambiguation. Sir Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, CH ( February 8 1903 &ndash December 6 The United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO, (Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu is a Right-wing party and Malaysia 's largest Political This was following the May 13 Incident and Razak was more assertive than the Tunku to demonstrate Malay Supremacy or Ketuanan Melayu. The May 13 Incident is a term for the Sino - Malay Race riots in Kuala Lumpur (then part of the state of Selangor Ketuanan Melayu ( Malay for Malay supremacy or Malay dominance) is a belief that the Malay people are the tuan (masters
Sambanthan, by now bearing the title "Tun", was forced to retire in favour of V. Manickavasagam in 1973. Tan Sri V Manickavasagam is the sixth president of the Malaysian Indian Congress from 1973&ndash1978 This intervention is an indication of the inertia that had gripped the MIC following Sambanthan's rise to leadership in 1955.
Ministerial Posts
As president of a party that was a component of the ruling Alliance Party, he was appointed Minister of Labour (1955-57), Health (1957-59), Works, Posts and Telecommunications (1959-71) and National Unity (1972-74).
During the time the Malaysian Government decided to ban the Chinese lion dance and racial tension was high after May 13, 1969, Tun Sambanthan as National Unity Minister in the early 1970s, took some Chinese leaders to Genting to talk things over. The discussions were successful and the lion dance ban was later lifted because the Government realised it was important to maintain each race’s culture.
Apart from ministerial duties, Tunku Abdul Rahman often assigned important tasks to Sambanthan. Sir Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, CH ( February 8 1903 &ndash December 6 In 1968, the Tunku sent Sambanthan to Fiji as an emissary of peace; the Chief Minister of Fiji acknowledged Sambanthan’s contribution in a letter to Tunku thanking him for the “great success” of the delegation “under the superb leadership of Tun Sambanthan”. Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य
Sambanthan also joined the delegation to Jakarta, Indonesia in 1966 to witness the signing of an agreement whereby diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Malaysia were normalised after the Indonesian Confrontation episode. Jakarta (also DKI Jakarta) is the Capital and largest city of Indonesia. The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and
After resigning as president of MIC, he was appointed chairman of the National Unity Board (1974-78) that replaced the National Unity Ministry.
Throughout his political career, which spanned 25 years, he had preached and practised the doctrine of unity amidst diversity. Appropriately enough, in the Malaysian context, it was to national unity that he devoted the last few years of his life.
Contributions
In his own way, Sambanthan instituted some reforms among Indian plantation workers. For example, he promoted education and thrift among Indian workers, lobbied for the introduction of English language instruction in Tamil schools in Perak and for the transformation of the South Indian Immigration Labour Fund into an education fund for the children of plantation workers. Perak is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of
The greatest challenge that MIC faced during his presidency was the fragmentation of estates, the livelihood of almost all Indian workers. The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC or Kongres India Se-Malaysia In a bid to help the fragmentation, the party sponsored cooperative efforts to acquire estates and prevent displacement of the workers.
In 1960 Tun V. T. Sambanthan touted the idea of a social co-operative to help plantation workers during the British land sell off. Tun Sambanthan and K. R. Somasundram worked closely to purchase their first estate at Bukit Sidim in that same year. Tan Sri Dato KR Somasundram (born 13 March 1930 is a prominent Malaysian Indian of some stature The co-operative was later called National Land and Finance Co-operative Society (NLFCS).
He toured rubber plantations to persuade workers to buy shares in the cooperative; a worker with a registration fee of $2 and a share costing $100 (payable in instalments) could buy a stake in a plantation.
At the time of his death in 1979, the cooperative had bought over 18 estates, totalling 120 km² and had a membership of 85,000 workers. The Malayan Plantation Agencies administered the estates on behalf of the cooperative.
His wife, Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan served as chairman and director of the National Land Finance Co- operative Society (NLFC) from 1980 to 1995 and its president in 1995 and 1996. Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan née Subramaniam is the wife of the late Tun V
K. R. Somasundram has since taken over the Chairmanship of the company upon the death of Tun Sambanthan and is still actively involved in the co-operative. Tan Sri Dato KR Somasundram (born 13 March 1930 is a prominent Malaysian Indian of some stature Today NLFCS has 19 estates totalling 35,000 acres (142 km²), as well as investments in Palm Oil, Property and Banking.
Family
Tun Sambanthan is married to Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan and has a daughter, Deva Kunjari, who is a lawyer. Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan née Subramaniam is the wife of the late Tun V
References
- Defender of the Indian community, The Star, July 16, 2007.
- The tough negotiator, The Star, July 16, 2007.
- Illustrious son of Sungai Siput, New Straits Times, August 31, 2007.
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