Yang Berhormat Tuan RSN Rayer MLA |
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Member of the Penang State Assembly for Seri Delima |
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Assumed office 2008 |
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Preceded by | Koay Kar Huah |
Personal details | |
Born |
Sanisvara Nethaji Rayer 11 June 1971 Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia |
Political party | Democratic Action Party – Pakatan Rakyat |
Alma mater | University of London |
Occupation | Politician, lawyer |
Religion | Hinduism |
Website | rsnrayer |
Sanisvara Nethaji Rayer s/o Rajaji Rayer (born 11 June 1971) is a Malaysian born lawyer and politician from Democratic Action Party. He is the current state assemblyman for N32 - Seri Delima, Penang.
Rayer's political career began in 1988 after a short stint working for Karpal Singh for his general election campaign. Subsequently, he joined Democratic Action Party (DAP) and went on to be elected twice as the state assemblyman for N32 - Seri Delima in 2008 and 2013.
Rayer was admitted to the Malaysian bar in 1995 after completing his chambering in the chambers of Karpal Singh & Co. Currently, he has his own law firm, R. Nethaji Rayer & Co. in Georgetown, Penang.
Rayer drew flak from UMNO-BN supporters for his controversial "UMNO celaka" (damned UMNO) remarks referring to three assemblymen who alleged that DAP instigated the May 1969 riot in a state assembly sitting in Penang State Legislative Assembly. Following his remark, a protest was staged by Penang Perkasa Youth and several Penang UMNO members in front of the state assembly hall. They stormed into the state assembly hall by crashing through the gates of the building. They have also demanded apology from R.S.N. Rayer. However, Rayer refused to apologise.
Rayer was arrested in a sedition dragnet for his "UMNO celaka" remark under the Sedition Act and was charged on 27 August 2014. However, the Sessions Court acquitted and discharged R.S.N. Rayer. The court held that the words that Rayer had used in reference to UMNO did not amount to sedition as alleged.