Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj
{{Short description|Malaysian politician (born 1955)}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Dr
| name = Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| caption =
| constituency_MP = Sungai Siput
| parliament = Malaysian
| term_start = 8 March 2008
| term_end = 9 May 2018
| predecessor = Samy Vellu
(BN–MIC)
| successor = Kesavan Subramaniam
(PH–PKR)
| majority = 1,821 (2008)
2,793 (2013)
| office2 = Chairman of Socialist Party of Malaysia
| term_start2 = 14 July 2019 {{cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/483753|title=Jeyakumar is new PSM chairperson|date=14 July 2019|publisher=Malaysiakini|language=English|accessdate=15 July 2019}}
| term_end2 =
| assembly2 =
| predecessor2 = Mohd Nasir Hashim
| successor2 =
| office3 =
| term_start3 =
| term_end3 =
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
| constituency3 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1955|03|28}}
| birth_place = Johor, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| citizenship = Malaysian
| party = Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM)
| profession = Medical doctor
| occupation = Politician
| alma_mater = University of Malaya (MBBS){{cite web|url=https://merits.mmc.gov.my/search|title=Search for Registered Doctor|website=merits.mmc.gov.my}}
| relations =
| spouse =
| children =
| website =
| footnotes =
| native_name_lang=Tamil|native_name={{nobold|மைக்கல் ஜெயகுமார்}}
}}
Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (Tamil: மைக்கல் ஜெயகுமார்) (born 28 March 1955) is a Malaysian politician who is currently the chairperson of Socialist Party of Malaysia. He served in the Parliament of Malaysia as Member of Parliament for the Sungai Siput constituency in Perak from 2008 to 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.parlimen.gov.my/index.php?modload=ahlidewan&uweb=dr&action=details&id=43|title=Micheal Jeyakumar Devaraj, Y.B. Dr.|publisher=Parliament of Malaysia|language=Malay|accessdate=27 June 2010}}
While a prominent member of the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) he was elected to Parliament on the ticket of the People's Justice Party (PKR) in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition coalition.{{cite news|url=http://www.thenutgraph.com/sungai-siput-is-a-pkr-seat/|title=Sungai Siput is a PKR seat|last=Looi|first=Elizabeth|date=2 December 2008|work=The Nut Graph|accessdate=27 June 2010}} His win in the 2008 general election unseated Samy Vellu; the long-serving President of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC).{{cite news|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/9/nation/20590882&sec=nation|title=Not so happy birthday for Samy|date=9 March 2008|work=The Star|publisher=Star Publications|accessdate=27 June 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622035921/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2008%2F3%2F9%2Fnation%2F20590882&sec=nation|archivedate=22 June 2011}} At that point he was only the third MP to win Sungai Siput since independence, his two predecessors being MIC presidents VT Sambanthan and Samy Vellu.{{cite web | url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/11/18/the-sungai-siput-conundrum | title=The Sungai Siput conundrum }} Samy Vellu had previously defeated Jeyakumar in Sungai Siput in the 1999 and 2004 general elections. Jeyakumar successfully retained his seat in the 2013 general election. However, he contested under PSM's own ticket and lost his seat in the 2018 general election, garnering just 3.52% of the votes cast and losing his deposit.{{Cite web |last=Vengadesan |first=Martin |date=2019-07-16 |title=Red doctor at the helm of PSM - 'It's time to reach out' |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/483953 |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Malaysiakini}}
Detention under Emergency Ordinance
In the run-up to Bersih 2.0 rally for electoral reform in Malaysia, Jeyakumar and other PSM members were arrested in June 2011, accused of trying to wage war against the king and revive Communism. In July 2011, he was arrested under the Emergency Ordinance (EO), which allows for indefinite detention without trial. He remained in solitary confinement until July 2011, spending a total of 28 days in detention. Jeyakumar credits his release to the support of the people.{{cite news|url=http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/08/11/jeyakumar-detention-was-horrible/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110183815/http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/08/11/jeyakumar-detention-was-horrible/|archive-date=10 November 2011|title=Jeyakumar: Detention was horrible|date=11 April 2011|work=Free Malaysia Today |accessdate=15 April 2015}}
Personal life
Jeyakumar also practices as a medical doctor by profession.{{cite news|url=http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/4/11/lifefocus/20722241&sec=lifefocus|title=Taste for reggae|date=11 April 2008|work=The Star|publisher=Star Publications|accessdate=27 June 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622040131/http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=%2F2008%2F4%2F11%2Flifefocus%2F20722241&sec=lifefocus|archivedate=22 June 2011}}
Election results
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ Parliament of Malaysia{{cite web|url=http://semak.spr.gov.my/spr/laporan/5_KedudukanAkhir.php |title=Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri |publisher=Election Commission of Malaysia |language=Malay |accessdate=27 June 2010 }} Percentage figures based on total turnout.{{Cite web | title = Malaysia General Election | work = undiinfo Malaysian Election Data | publisher = Malaysiakini | url = http://undi.info/# | accessdate = 4 February 2017}} Results only available from the 2004 election.{{cite web|url=http://resultpru13.spr.gov.my/module/keputusan/paparan/paparan_laporan.php|title=KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13|work=Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum|publisher=Election Commission of Malaysia |language=Malay |accessdate=24 March 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.myundi.com.my/pru13/region.aspx |title=my undi : Kawasan & Calon-Calon PRU13 : Keputusan PRU13 (Archived copy) |website=www.myundi.com.my|accessdate=2014-04-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331000718/http://www.myundi.com.my/pru13/region.aspx |archivedate=31 March 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://ww2.utusan.com.my/utusan/special.asp?pr=PilihanRaya2013&pg=keputusan.htm|title=Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13|work=Utusan Malaysia|accessdate=26 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321134049/http://ww2.utusan.com.my/utusan/special.asp?pr=PilihanRaya2013&pg=keputusan.htm|archive-date=21 March 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://keputusan.spr.gov.my/|title=SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14|publisher=Election Commission of Malaysia |language=Malay|accessdate=17 May 2018}} Percentage figures based on total turnout.{{cite web|url=https://election.thestar.com.my/|title=The Star Online GE14|work=The Star|accessdate=24 May 2018}} Percentage figures based on total turnout. !|Year !|Constituency !colspan=2|Candidate !|Votes !|Pct !colspan=2|Opponent(s) !|Votes !|Pct !|Ballots cast !|Majority !|Turnout |
| rowspan="2" |1999
| rowspan=11|P062 Sungai Siput |rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | |rowspan="2" |Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (DAP)1 |rowspan="2" align="right" |12,221 |rowspan="2"|40.38% |{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Samy Vellu (MIC) |align="right" |17,480 |57.75% |rowspan="2"| 31,165 |rowspan="2"| 5,259 |rowspan="2"| 63.62% |
| style="background-color: #0000FF;" |
|Mohd Asri Othman (MDP) |align="right" |565 |align="right" |1.87% |
| rowspan="2" |2004
|rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Keadilan}} | |rowspan="2" |Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (PKR)2 |rowspan="2" align="right" |8,680 |rowspan="2" |28.37% |{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Samy Vellu (MIC) |align="right" |19,029 |62.19% |rowspan="2" |31,583 |rowspan="2" |10,349 |rowspan="2" |67.51% |
| {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|Shanmugam Ponmugam Ponnan (DAP) |align="right" |2,890 |align="right" |9.44% |
| rowspan="2" |2008
|rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Keadilan}} | |rowspan="2" |{{nowrap|Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj}} (PKR)2 |rowspan="2" align="right" |16,458 |rowspan="2" |49.64% |{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Samy Vellu (MIC) |align="right" |14,637 |44.15% |rowspan="2" |33,154 |rowspan="2" |1,821 |rowspan="2" |69.91% |
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |
|Nor Rizan Oon (IND) |align="right" |867 |align="right" |2.61% |
| rowspan="2" |2013
|rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Keadilan}} | |rowspan="2" |Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (PKR)2 |rowspan="2" align="right" |21,593 |rowspan="2" |51.89% |{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |align="right" |18,800 |45.17% |rowspan="2" |41,617 |rowspan="2" |2,793 |rowspan="2" |80.70% |
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |
|{{nowrap|Nagalingam Singaravelloo}} (IND) |align="right" |197 |align="right" |0.47% |
| rowspan="4" |2018
|rowspan="4" bgcolor={{party color|Socialist Party of Malaysia}} | |rowspan="4" |Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (PSM) |rowspan="4" align="right" |1,505 |rowspan="4"|3.52% |{{Party shading/Keadilan}} | |align="right" |20,817 |48.72% |rowspan="4"|42,726 |rowspan="4"|5,607 |rowspan="4"|79.16% |
| {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|align="right" |15,210 |35.60% |
| {{Party shading/PAS}} |
|Ishak Ibrahim (PAS) |align="right"|5,194 |12.16% |
Note: 1 & 2 Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj is a member of PSM, amid contested under the tickets of DAP in the 1999 election and PKR in the 2004, 2008 and 2013 elections.
See also
References
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Category:Malaysian politicians of Indian descent
Category:Socialist Party of Malaysia politicians