Kumar and Rani in Penang fresh after their triumph in Sg Siput
While everyone knows Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj as the guy who finally toppled Samy Vellu in his Sg Siput bastion, few are aware that his victory owes a lot to his wife and campaign manager, Rani Rasiah, a PSM central committee member, who played an instrumental role in the campaign. Of course, they couldn’t have done it without the help of a multi-ethnic team of dedicated volunteers from all around the country. A tale of sheer grit and perseverance.
It was an amazing campaign. Rani revealed that none of the volunteers who helped out in their campaign – many of them from grassroots communities – was paid a sen. It was entirely a people’s effort. In fact, their regular ceramah in Sg Siput did not feature any big names. Rather, it was the ordinary people – farmers, urban pioneers, estate workers – who took to the stage to share their experience and urge the crowds to vote for change!
The campaign was also boosted by a strong DAP candidate standing in one of the state seats and by Pas workers who did their bit by putting up posters and flags in kampongs.
Kumar told me he discovered that his new position as MP for Sungai Siput carries with it certain powers and influence over local authorities, which he hopes to use to uplift some of the diverse communities in the area.
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Well done Doc Kumar! You make me proud to have had known you during the Sunday School days in the Tamil Methodist Church at Kebun Nyor. Keep it up and continue with your noble and lofty deeds and struggle for the down throden proletariats. Your voice will be power to alot of us the powerless.
Years ago, when our Late MGG Pillai came for a visit to Penang, he spoke tons of nice things about you and how you even asked your daughter not to play the piano anymore as you considered that a luxtury you can live without. MGG even commented about your car which was falling apart when you drove him around Sungai Siput.
Keep the fire burning my friend! A new stage in the class struggle. The need for solidarity is as relevant today as it was in 1848 when Marx and Engels called for “proletarians of all countries, unite!”
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Thank you for toppling Samy Vellu. I have been hoping for many many years for this to happen and I used to swear why Sg Siput folks still want such an “E-DIOT” as MP. I am deliriously happy that Dr Jeyakumar did it. THANK YOU (to Dr jeyakumar and Sg Siput folks) very much for getting rid of a … “E-DIOT” for the people.
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Send my regards to the victorious husband & wife team. Please tell them that they have done great service to the nation. We are all indebted to them!
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Sam(son) locks got shorn by Rani Delilah…..syabas Rani.
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Dr Xavier u rock !
hey who that using “E-diot” word. that’s my domain name la
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at every election, i always prayed hard that samy will lose and come this 12th election, my prayer was answered.
i had met dr jeya last year when our church group visited one of the plantation workers housing estate which is under dr jeya’s watch/help.
apart from listening to the grouses of the plantation workers, also get to hear others like the urban pioners, single mothers, orang asli. all of them were helped so much by dr jeya. all of them had so high admiration of dr jeya.
thus i can understand if his ceramah had those ordinary people as speakers instead of big names. it was those ordinary people who win over the rakyat, who are ordinary people too, that manage to give dr jeya the win. syabas to his wife with her great campaigning idea!
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Congradulations on winning the sungei siput seat. Somehow this time I felt that you would make it. Keep the good work going. Let all Malaysians feel proud to be Bangsa Malaysia
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Its a great pleasure to see Dr. Jeya Kumar win against the (man who let down the) community. I have had the plesure working with Dr. Kumar during his time in the goverment service and have knowlege of the troubles he had to go through for trying to help the poor and marginalised lot, including the Penans . He is indeed the perfect choice. My hearty wishes to the hausnband and wife team. Well Done. God bless you.
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Well done and keep the fire burning continuosly so that complacency does not creep in. It took years to achieve the support to topple mighty Samy Vellu in his den. Sleep with your eyes open because Samy Vellu is having sleepless night.
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WELL DONE AND MY BEST WISHES FOR U AND FAMILY.NOT MANY PEOPLE WILLING TO SACRIFICE TIME TO BE THE GIANT KILLER.IF YOU PAY ME YOUR MP SALARY X 3 FOR ME,I WONT BE ABLE TO SACRIFICE MY TIME FOR OTHERS.THANK YOU DOCTOR.YOU ARE THE NOBLE FEW IN THIS COUNTRY.RAJ RAMAN.RACE.MALAYSIAN.RELIGION;MY OWN BUSINESS.DREAMING TO BE MALAYSIAN PUTRA
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This may sound off-topic (it’s really not), so do bear with me…
One of the best ways to market new technology is by means of product evangelism – a user-experiential approach, in which the virtues of new technology are marketed to the mainstream by the users themselves… this is the approached introduced by Guy Kawasaki when the Macintosh was first unleashed into the IT market.
It would appear that the pursuit of political sea-change works best in a similar way – through the evangelical down-to-earth marketing technique employed by Dr. Jayakumar and Rani. No need for lavish flash-bang type of wowing the voters… something that BN painfully found out no longer is effective with the voting public, judging by the results.
Congratulations, and well done! I hope that your success brings betterment to the people of your constituency!
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Congratulations on the win. It has brought about much needed change, and played an important role in what is our country’s biggest step forward to a non pseudo-democracy.
But please remember that the mastermind behind the defeat was none other than Samy himself… Whilst I have no doubt everyone involved in the campaign played an hugely important role which contributed to the eventual downfall of what is hopefully the last of the BN warlords. I believe no one will deny without external factors, many of which have been widely publicised, this would have not been possible.
I for one, along with many of my peers voted for the ‘Non BN’ candidate. Please remember that.
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Success is sweet
After many failures
No one can beat that feeling
Only God can
Now the time to do it
Make it known years to come
The groundwork laid out years ago
Finally it bears fruit
A little plant finally grows
In the heart of Sungai Siput
I haven’t met Dr Jeyakumar
What I read he must be a kind soul
Helping the poor and disadvantaged
I only wish other leaders can do
For the people without any returns
I pray he finds his work
Now refreshing and ultimately satisfying
The people of Sungai Siput
You are bless with the like of Dr Jeyakumar
Here I have a BN Dato
Who didn’t come to my house when he passed by
When he campaigned for his seat….
Dr Jeyakumar
Thank you for retiring Sami d’loo
I hope I don’t have to see him no more
He should join LKY and watch the sunset
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Well done Dr Jeyakumar and a million thanx to your tireless campaign manager-cum-wife. Wish you guys the best of luck in your efforts to further champion the plight of your constituents!
If help is needed, just get in touch. We KL people have hearts and willing hands too!
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wonderful!
with a woman like rani beside jeyakumar, the people of sungai siput will definitely be well taken care of.
i hae always prayed and wished for jeyakumar to take up office. he is shining example of what good MPs should be made of – humility, people-centred and hard work.
all the best to rani and kumar
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Beautiful story of a beautiful pair. Infinite blessings upon them and all the good they have accomplished – and will continue accomplishing, on an even greater scale!
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Syabas on yr. Victory Dr. Kumar Malaysians have waited for a looooong time to get rid of Semi Value,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,well done ! A new Era is starting in Malaysia.
REFORMASI ! Hidup Rakyat !
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In the run up to the 1999 GE and the height of Reformasi, I remember going on a walkabout with you and your “entourage” to a few villages in Sg. Siput. It was evening and there was a drizzle. Later on, I experienced the warmth of your people manning the “bilik gerakan”. So much so, I remember writing an email entitled “Vote for Change, Vote for David” – alluding to the David v. Goliath story. While Goliath stayed in power that time, no thanks to the notorious postal votes, justice was served – some 9 years later – on 8/3/08.
It must have been a tremendous feeling for you that night. And I can proudly tell my son of the day when Hope returned to the land. That will be a night to remember forever. Sometimes, and especially at times like these, I think to myself “It’s Worth It” – all the struggles, pain, failings – It’s Worth It. Thank you Dr. Thank you Rani. And all your “Makkal” for keeping that little light going when it was dark. God bless you, your families and loved ones and all your people in Sg. Siput.
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I think we should not be patting ourselves on the back just yet because perhaps for the fact that Dr. Jeyakumar has lost more than once to Samy previously shows that the reason he won this time is not merely due this effort/personality alone.
The wind was blowing strong and the rakyat just voted along that line. My opinion is that Samy did himself in rather than the other way around. But either way, this is definitely a good chance for Dr. Jeya to prove himself in Sg. Siput that their choice is a correct one.
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Dr. Jeya , Not many sacrifice themselves for the betterment
of the underprivelaged. You stood for what you believed in.
Although you unseated the shameless Samy, its your principles I admire and you have become a role model for the young.
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When you feel the sufferings of the down trodden, the hurt of the wretched and the desperation of the poor, you will not be at peace until you help them. WHEN you can feel all these feelings you are one with them and the need to help arises naturally(by nature). And nature comes from God.
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Good JOB and GOD BLESS you Richly tis time! Our family awaits this moment for such a long time. We dun really like the way SamI do things/….Keep it up! prove to the SS people u can do better than SAMI~
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Besides Rani please do not forget the timely contribution of Loganation of Sg. Siput the silent giant killer (former right hand of Samy Velu)who tirelessly went all out to meet the voters to campaign against Samy.
Loga knows the tricks of the trade he speaks chinese dialects and was able to convey the message to the chinese voters. He also went to meet the orang asli voters without the prescence of the candidate and was able to pull their support. Those who can read Tamil please read Loganathan’s exclusive interview in Nayanam weekly (16 March 08). He has exposed Samy Velu’s misdeeds and Samy’s alleged involvement in estate workers land scams in Sg. Siput.
Makkal Sakthi members also went all out to oust Samy. I wonder how many supporters of Samy would have been forced to bring back the birthday cakes and garlands as it was his birthday.
I have met Dr. Jeyakumar once he is a very simple and humble fighter always prepared to stand up for the working class.
After 34 years, the Sg.Siput residents at last chased Samy out of the town, sources said that (he) is now hiding at Jalan Ipoh at the MIC Hq…
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It’s so refreshing to hear Dr. Jeya and Rani send the vile speaking MIC honcho into the sunset for good. Let’s hope this is the end for Samy. Keep up the good work Dr Jeya and Rani
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It’s wonderful for a couple to work as a team
To bring in the result that some thought was a dream
Not knowing the work carried out like a continuous stream
Will bring home not only the milk but also the precious cream
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
http://msi.Rocky101.com
Sat. 22nd March 2008.
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