Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
People, culture and language
* Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka
** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
: 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
The Parliament of Malaysia (; Jawi script, Jawi: ) is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives, Literal translation, lit. "People's As ...
as Member of Parliament for the
Sungai Siput constituency in
Perak
Perak (; Perak Malay: ''Peghok'') is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kel ...
from 2008 to 2018.
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.
His win in the
2008 general election unseated
Samy Vellu; the long-serving President of the
Malaysian Indian Congress
The Malaysian Indian Congress ( abbrev: MIC; )，formerly known as Malayan Indian Congress, is a Malaysian political party. It is one of the founding members of the coalition Barisan Nasional, previously known as the Alliance, which was in pow ...
(MIC). 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. Samy Vellu had previously defeated Jeyakumar in Sungai Siput in the
1999
1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons.
Events January
* January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers.
* January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...
and
2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...
general elections.
Jeyakumar successfully retained his seat in the
2013
2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years).
2013 was designated as:
*International Year of Water Cooperation
*International Year of Quinoa
Events
January
* January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...
general election.
However, he contested under PSM's own ticket and lost his seat in the
2018
Events January
* January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency.
* January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...
general election, garnering just 3.52% of the votes cast and losing his deposit.
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.
Personal life
Jeyakumar also practices as a medical doctor by profession.
Election results
Note: 1 & 2 Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj is a member of PSM, amid contested under the tickets of DAP in the 1999
1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons.
Events January
* January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers.
* January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...
election and PKR in the 2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...
, 2008
2008 was designated as:
*International Year of Languages
*International Year of Planet Earth
*International Year of the Potato
*International Year of Sanitation
The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...
and 2013
2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years).
2013 was designated as:
*International Year of Water Cooperation
*International Year of Quinoa
Events
January
* January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...
elections.
See also
*
Sungai Siput (federal constituency)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj
1955 births
Living people
People from Johor
Malaysian politicians of Indian descent
Socialist Party of Malaysia politicians
Malaysian MPs 2008–2013
Malaysian MPs 2013–2018