IPF idol and president Tan Sri MG Pandithan passed away today morning at 9am 8.20am, according to my source. More updates will be posted once available.
MG Pandithan (1940 – 2008)
source: http://malaysiakini.com/news/82199
Born on April 3, 1940, Pandithan was a former MIC vice-president until his sacking with 13 of his supporters in 1988.
He was expelled in the wake of a protest following a fallout with MIC president S Samy Vellu. During the protest, Pandithan had brought a coffin to symbolise the death of democracy in the party.
Pandithan received his early education at the San Peng Tamil School and continued his secondary education at the St Anthony Secondary School, Jalan Robinson, Kuala Lumpur. He held a diploma in journalism.
Pandithan served as parliamentary secretary at the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) in 1986, but was dropped in 1989 when he was expelled from the MIC.
Prior to that, he began work as a part-time journalist with Tamil Nesan before becoming a full-fledged journalist and subsequently, a sub-editor of the Tamil daily.
In 1975, he joined the MIC as an ordinary branch member before becoming the chairman of the Loke Yew-San Peng MIC branch, a year later.
In 1977, he was elected to the party central working committee and four years later, he became MIC vice-president.
In 1985, he was made senator and became the member of parliament for the Tapah seat in the 1986 general elections.
He retained the party vice-presidency in 1987.
Updates from the local media:
IPF leader Pandithan dies
http://malaysiakini.com/news/82137
Apr 30, 08 10:08am
Indian Progressive Front (IPF) president MG Pandithan passed away this morning after a protracted bout with leukemia. The 68-year-old leader died at Hospital Kuala Lumpur at 8.30am. His wife Jevashree Pandithan was at his bedside.
The veteran politician was previously a popular leader in MIC who commanded strong grassroots support from the Indian working class. He later rose up the ranks to become vice-president.
However, his ties with MIC president S Samy Vellu became strained when he backed a faction opposed to the president. In 1988, he was slapped with a show-cause letter for allegedly practising caste-oriented politics.
Coffin protest
In June that year, Pandithan embarked on a hunger strike in front of the MIC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. He brought along a coffin to signify that democracy was dead in the party in a protest which made headlines. This led to his expulsion on July 16 together with 13 of his loyalists.
Two years later, he formed IPF and since then the party has been trying to gain entry into the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition but Samy Vellu remained opposed to this.
However during the Ijok by-election last April, the two sworn enemies buried the hatchet and hugged each other on stage. During the IPF congress in July last year, Pandithan heaped praises on Samy Vellu and described him as a “hero of the Indians.” He also likened him to the Hindu god, Lord Krishna. This reunion did not go down well with certain quarters in IPF who viewed it as an act of betrayal by their president.
IPF president and ex-MIC man Pandithan dies (updated)sourcePETALING JAYA: Indian Progressive Front (IPF) president Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan, formerly the vice-president of MIC, passed away at KL General Hospital at 8.20am on Wednesday. He was 68. He’d been admitted following a long illness. His body will be taken back to his home in Serdang at noon today.
Pandithan was also formerly Member of Parliament for Tapah and parliamentary secretary to the Trade and Industry Ministry. He leaves behind his wife Jayashree and 21-year-old son Jeyan, who’s studying medicine in the Ukraine.
The funeral will take place on Thursday at 3pm at a venue to be determined.
Once considered a protege of MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu until they had a falling out in 1988, after which Pandithan was sacked from the party. The two remained political enemies for nearly 20 years, but made up last year during the Ijok by-election. Pandithan’s renewed friendship with Samy Vellu led to fears that IPF would be dissolved into or merged with MIC.
But at a press conference last July, Pandithan declared that IPF would not be dissolved as long as “I am alive.”
From hospital bed last week, Pandithan named his wife Jayashree as his successor in IPF, declaring her president. This has led to some dissent within the party.
Ailing Tan Sri M. G. Pandithan lost his battle with cancer at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital at 8.30am today. The Indian Progressive Front (IPF) president was 68.
His wife, Puan Sri Jevashree Pandithan was by his bedside at the time of his demise. The couple’s only child, Jeyan is studying medicine in the Ukraine.
IPF deputy president V. Senggutuan said Pandithan had suffered lung and kidney complications over the past two years.
Pandithan’s older brother, M. Kandian,70, said the IPF president had begun his career as a journalist before entering politics. “He loved politics and his party (IPF)…and made valuable contributions, especially to the Indian community. “It is hoped that society will remember him,” he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital mortuary.
Pandithan’s body will be sent to his residence at No: 80, Jalan BS 5/3, Taman Bukit Serdang where family members, relatives and friends will pay their last respects. He was cremated at the Hindu cemetery in Cheras.