M. G. Pandithan
Encyclopedia
Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan was a Malaysian Indian politician and the founder president of the Indian Progressive Front.
The party claims to represent the Indian community in Malaysia and was a longtime rival of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) until recently.
Pandithan was formerly an MIC vice-president, Member of Parliament for Tapah
and parliamentary secretary to the Trade and Industry Ministry. He died in Kuala Lumpur General Hospital on April 30, 2008 at the age of 68, after suffering from a long bout of leukemia.
He studied at SJK (T) San Peng and completed his Higher School Certificate at St Anthony’s Institute before joining Tamil Nesan
as a crime reporter.
, whom he had regarded as his mentor. But after winning a seat in the party’s Central Working Committee his climb was rapid.
In 1981, he became party vice-president, commanding strong grassroots support from the Malaysian Indian community. After being re-elected for a third term as vice president in 1986, he won the Tapah
parliamentary seat and was later appointed parliamentary secretary to the Trade and Industry Ministry.
However, he was issued a show cause letter on June 2, 1988, for alleging that the party leadership had failed to fight for the rights of the Malaysian Indian community and for allegedly practising caste-oriented politics. This was when bad blood between MIC president and Samy Vellu
and Pandithan took the turn for the worse.
Two days later, he embarked on a “death fast” at the MIC headquarters’ car park, bringing along a coffin and accompanied by 50 supporters, in a bid to prove his innocence and to get charges of inciting violence and unrest within the party dropped. He stopped the fast after 28 hours, following an assurance by then deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam
.
He was issued a second show-cause letter for bringing the coffin to the MIC headquarters and expelled from the party on July 16, 1988.
(IPF).
The new party supported the opposition coalition Gagasan Rakyat in the Oct 21, 1990, general elections. He contested and lost the Teluk Intan
parliamentary seat.
However, he later had a change of heart and tried unsuccessfully to get IPF admitted into the Barisan Nasional
in 1994 and the following year quit the opposition coalition to pledge support to Barisan. However, his attempt to join Barisan was blocked by Samy Vellu
and MIC. Pandithan had to be content by lending outside support to Barisan.
In September 1995, then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad made Pandithan a senator in the Dewan Negara
in recognition of the IPF’s support and contributions to Barisan Nasional
.
, who were at one time best of friends, had been at loggerheads over more than two decades, often trading barbs through the media and trying to outdo each other through political manoeuvres.
Pandithan and Samy Vellu met for the first time in 12 years in June 2000, during the campaign for Barisan candidate S. Sothinathan
in the Teluk Kemang by-election. Later, Samy Vellu publicly admitted that he had opposed IPF’s entry into Barisan Nasional
.
In October 2003, Pandithan openly called for Samy Vellu to hand over the MIC party leadership to his deputy, Datuk S. Subramaniam
, saying that Samy Vellu had stayed too long.
However, when Pandithan fell ill and was hospitalised in 2006, Samy Vellu visited him and the two fell into an emotional reunion.
The IPF chief told a press conference in July 2007 that he wanted to bury the enmity with Samy Vellu but ruled out any merger plans with MIC, a Barisan Nasional
(BN) component and the country's biggest Indian-based political party.
"Enough is enough. It has been more than 20 years, I don't want to have any enmity with him (Samy Vellu). Bad blood between the two of us is not good. I want to be a friend.
"We should join forces to fight for the Indian community. Twenty years of fighting is too long (between both leaders)," were Pandithan's words at the press conference.
and Pandithan caused many members of IPF to fear that the party would soon be dissolved and absorbed into the MIC. However Pandithan said he would never dissolve the party as long as “I am alive,” said Pandithan in a press conference in July 2007.
“Even to the last drop of my blood, I want to remain in IPF. We have gone through 20 years of hardship and struggle and I want the party to remain,” he said.
In his address at the party’s 15th general assembly, Pandithan said that despite IPF’s new cooperation with MIC, the struggle to be admitted into Barisan Nasional would continue.
The party claims to represent the Indian community in Malaysia and was a longtime rival of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) until recently.
Pandithan was formerly an MIC vice-president, Member of Parliament for Tapah
Tapah
Tapah is the administrative town of the district Batang Padang, Perak, Malaysia .The name "Tapah" is said to be originated from the name of a fresh water fish, "Ikan Tapah"...
and parliamentary secretary to the Trade and Industry Ministry. He died in Kuala Lumpur General Hospital on April 30, 2008 at the age of 68, after suffering from a long bout of leukemia.
Background
Born on April 3, 1940, Pandithan was the eighth son of a Kuala Lumpur City Hall manual worker and a washerwoman. Pandithan grew up in the cramped government quarters at San Peng flats, an area notorious for crime.He studied at SJK (T) San Peng and completed his Higher School Certificate at St Anthony’s Institute before joining Tamil Nesan
Tamil Nesan
The Tamil Nesan is a Tamil newspaper published in Malaysia, and the oldest Tamil newspaper in the country, established in 1924. The first issue was published on September 24, 1924....
as a crime reporter.
Political involvement
It took Pandithan many years to build a career in the Malaysian Indian Congress. He climbed the ranks of the party the hard way like Datuk Seri S. Samy VelluSamy Vellu
Dato' Seri Samy Vellu Sangalimuthu is an Indian Malaysian politician. He is the longest serving President of the Malaysian Indian Congress , a component party of the Barisan Nasional coalition, holding the position since 1979, for 11 consecutive terms...
, whom he had regarded as his mentor. But after winning a seat in the party’s Central Working Committee his climb was rapid.
In 1981, he became party vice-president, commanding strong grassroots support from the Malaysian Indian community. After being re-elected for a third term as vice president in 1986, he won the Tapah
Tapah
Tapah is the administrative town of the district Batang Padang, Perak, Malaysia .The name "Tapah" is said to be originated from the name of a fresh water fish, "Ikan Tapah"...
parliamentary seat and was later appointed parliamentary secretary to the Trade and Industry Ministry.
However, he was issued a show cause letter on June 2, 1988, for alleging that the party leadership had failed to fight for the rights of the Malaysian Indian community and for allegedly practising caste-oriented politics. This was when bad blood between MIC president and Samy Vellu
Samy Vellu
Dato' Seri Samy Vellu Sangalimuthu is an Indian Malaysian politician. He is the longest serving President of the Malaysian Indian Congress , a component party of the Barisan Nasional coalition, holding the position since 1979, for 11 consecutive terms...
and Pandithan took the turn for the worse.
Two days later, he embarked on a “death fast” at the MIC headquarters’ car park, bringing along a coffin and accompanied by 50 supporters, in a bid to prove his innocence and to get charges of inciting violence and unrest within the party dropped. He stopped the fast after 28 hours, following an assurance by then deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam
S. Subramaniam
S. Subramaniam here refers to the former deputy president of the Malaysian Indian Congress. For the government cabinet minister of the same name, see Subramaniam SathasivamDato' Subramaniam Sinniah or S...
.
He was issued a second show-cause letter for bringing the coffin to the MIC headquarters and expelled from the party on July 16, 1988.
President of Indian Progressive Front
After expulsion from the Malaysian Indian Congress, Pandithan tried to return to the party but was unsuccessful and in August 1990, he formed the All Malaysian Indian Progressive FrontAll Malaysian Indian Progressive Front
The All Malaysian Indian Progressive Front , also known as the Indian Progressive Front , is a Malaysian political party formed as a splinter of the Malaysian Indian Congress by M.G. Pandithan. The party supports the Barisan Nasional coalition but it is not a member.-See also:*List of political...
(IPF).
The new party supported the opposition coalition Gagasan Rakyat in the Oct 21, 1990, general elections. He contested and lost the Teluk Intan
Teluk Intan
Teluk Intan（安順）is a town located in the state of Perak in Malaysia. It is the largest town in Hilir Perak district and third largest town in the state of Perak with an estimated population of around 120,000, about half of Hilir Perak district's total population...
parliamentary seat.
However, he later had a change of heart and tried unsuccessfully to get IPF admitted into the Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
in 1994 and the following year quit the opposition coalition to pledge support to Barisan. However, his attempt to join Barisan was blocked by Samy Vellu
Samy Vellu
Dato' Seri Samy Vellu Sangalimuthu is an Indian Malaysian politician. He is the longest serving President of the Malaysian Indian Congress , a component party of the Barisan Nasional coalition, holding the position since 1979, for 11 consecutive terms...
and MIC. Pandithan had to be content by lending outside support to Barisan.
In September 1995, then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad made Pandithan a senator in the Dewan Negara
Dewan Negara
The Dewan Negara is the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia. The Dewan Negara consists of 70 members, of which 26 are indirectly elected by the states, with two senators for every state in the Federation, and the other 44 being appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong .The Dewan Negara...
in recognition of the IPF’s support and contributions to Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
.
Enmity resolved
Pandithan and Samy VelluSamy Vellu
Dato' Seri Samy Vellu Sangalimuthu is an Indian Malaysian politician. He is the longest serving President of the Malaysian Indian Congress , a component party of the Barisan Nasional coalition, holding the position since 1979, for 11 consecutive terms...
, who were at one time best of friends, had been at loggerheads over more than two decades, often trading barbs through the media and trying to outdo each other through political manoeuvres.
Pandithan and Samy Vellu met for the first time in 12 years in June 2000, during the campaign for Barisan candidate S. Sothinathan
S. Sothinathan
Yang Berbahagia Dato' Sothinathan s/o Sinna Goundar is a Malaysian Politician of Indian Tamil origin. He was also vice-president of the Malaysian Indian Congress, a component party of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition...
in the Teluk Kemang by-election. Later, Samy Vellu publicly admitted that he had opposed IPF’s entry into Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
.
In October 2003, Pandithan openly called for Samy Vellu to hand over the MIC party leadership to his deputy, Datuk S. Subramaniam
S. Subramaniam
S. Subramaniam here refers to the former deputy president of the Malaysian Indian Congress. For the government cabinet minister of the same name, see Subramaniam SathasivamDato' Subramaniam Sinniah or S...
, saying that Samy Vellu had stayed too long.
However, when Pandithan fell ill and was hospitalised in 2006, Samy Vellu visited him and the two fell into an emotional reunion.
The IPF chief told a press conference in July 2007 that he wanted to bury the enmity with Samy Vellu but ruled out any merger plans with MIC, a Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
(BN) component and the country's biggest Indian-based political party.
"Enough is enough. It has been more than 20 years, I don't want to have any enmity with him (Samy Vellu). Bad blood between the two of us is not good. I want to be a friend.
"We should join forces to fight for the Indian community. Twenty years of fighting is too long (between both leaders)," were Pandithan's words at the press conference.
IPF status
The sudden closeness of Samy VelluSamy Vellu
Dato' Seri Samy Vellu Sangalimuthu is an Indian Malaysian politician. He is the longest serving President of the Malaysian Indian Congress , a component party of the Barisan Nasional coalition, holding the position since 1979, for 11 consecutive terms...
and Pandithan caused many members of IPF to fear that the party would soon be dissolved and absorbed into the MIC. However Pandithan said he would never dissolve the party as long as “I am alive,” said Pandithan in a press conference in July 2007.
“Even to the last drop of my blood, I want to remain in IPF. We have gone through 20 years of hardship and struggle and I want the party to remain,” he said.
In his address at the party’s 15th general assembly, Pandithan said that despite IPF’s new cooperation with MIC, the struggle to be admitted into Barisan Nasional would continue.