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Penang MIC chief lets go state seat
http://malaysiakini.com/news/78090
Athi Veeranggan | Feb 15, 08 10:04am
Penang MIC chairperson, Dr K Rajapathy has quit from electoral politics. He will not defend his Prai state assembly seat in the coming general election.
He has declined party nomination to allow fresher face to replace him and restart his career as a doctor in Nibong Tebal. “I have told the party president over the phone on Wednesday night about my decision not to seek re-election in the coming general election” he said.
During their conversation, MIC president S Samy Vellu had thanked the out-going assemblyman for his outstanding services rendered to Prai constituents during his three-term tenure as their elected representatives.
Rajapathy will resume his profession as a medical practitioner in Nibong Tebal, a duty he left to the party call to contest the Prai state seat in 1995. “I am going back to my clinic,” he said. Rajapathy said he decided not to contest to make way for younger aspirants.”I had enough of electoral politics. Let’s allow younger ones to take over,” said the 62-year-old doctor-cum-politician.
The replacement candidate
State MIC secretary L Krishnan is the front runner to become the MIC candidate in Prai, which comes under the Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency, although several pretenders are also staking their claims.
Although he is quitting electoral politics, Rajapathy, however, is not resigning as the MIC state chairperson. “I have left the decision to the party president. I have told him that I am willing to continue serving the party in the present or any other capacity so long the party wants me,” he said.
A quiet politician and state MIC treasurer then, an unknown Rajapathy was named as the MIC candidate for the Prai seat back in 1995. If his nomination surprised many, his victory over DAP strongman P Patto in his debut election was more shocking.
Following his victory, he served as Penang executive councillor for two terms between 1995 and 2004 and the Penang Hindu Endowment Board chairman for nearly a decade since 1996. Bagan Dalam state assemblyman and MIC deputy chairman PK Subbaiyah has replaced him in both positions.
Rajapathy was appointed as Penang MIC chairman in 1996 and subsequently was elected the party central working committee (CWC) member in the same year.He still serves on both capacity.
Axed by Samy Vellu
After the last election, Samy Vellu decided to axe Rajapathy from the state executive council and appointed the newly elected Bagan Dalam state assemblyman Subbaiyah.
It is learnt Rajapathy was dropped for allegedly engineering a successful plot to oust Bukit Bendera division chairperson and state MIC deputy chairman P Shanmugam, Samy Vellu’s brother-in-law, during a division election in 2003. Although the allegation was unfounded, it did not stop Samy Vellu from dropping Rajapathy. Sources said the relationship between Rajapathy and Samy Vellu turned sour momentarily for several months, only to improve lately.
During his time, Rajapathy’s notable achievements were the construction of an electricity and a gas-powered Hindu crematorium facilities in Batu Lanchang Hindu burial ground, and the state MIC headquarters building in Georgetown. Prior to this, Penang Hindus and MIC members never had such facilities on their own.
Earlier Negri Sembilan MIC deputy chairperson Dr L Krishnan had said that he would not be defending his Jeram Padang state seat. Likewise, Johor MIC chief KS Balakrishnan has also said that he would not be defending his Pasir Gudang state seat.
