Yang Berhormat Dr. Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj MP |
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Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Sungai Siput, Perak |
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Assumed office 8 March 2008 |
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Preceded by | Samy Vellu |
Personal details | |
Born |
Johor, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) |
March 28, 1955
Citizenship | Malaysian |
Political party | Socialist Party of Malaysia |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Medical doctor |
Dr. Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (born 28 March 1955) is a Malaysian politician who has served in the Parliament of Malaysia as Member of Parliament for the Sungai Siput constituency in Perak since 2008.
Jeyakumar is a member of the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) but was elected to Parliament on the ticket of the People's Justice Party in the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition. His win in the 2008 general election unseated the long-serving President of the Malaysian Indian Congress, Samy Vellu. Vellu who had defeated Jeyakumar in Sungai Siput in the 1999 and 2004 general elections. Jeyakumar successfully retained his seat in the 2013 general election.
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.
Jeyakumar also practices as a medical doctor.