A true multi-racial man – that’s Vijay

Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam was a man bent on changing the local political scene from within and always saw any problem as a Malaysian one and not along racial lines.

Sometime in late February, just a few days before nomination day of the March 8 general election, I got in touch with Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam because I had just got hold of the Gerakan’s candidates list.

There were no Indian candidates.

When I asked him why Indians were being ignored by Gerakan, Vijay (as he is known to his friends) replied: “Never mind-lah. Why can’t the Chinese also serve the Indians? We are all Malaysians.”

This simple reply spoke volumes about this true gentleman who genuinely believed in multi-racialism.

He never saw anything beneficial in racial politics.

Recently, he was elected as Gerakan vice-president for the fourth time.

Vijay was often seen as the token representative of the Indian community in the party.

However, this was not a view the soft-spoken medical doctor shared.

A good friend once referred to him as Gerakan’s “holy cow” – as a leader who will always get elected in party polls.

But Vijay retorted with a smile by saying: “I am definitely holy but I am no cow.”

Despite his soft and gentle manner, Vijay was never afraid to voice his opinion.

Many reporters liked to talk to him because they could be sure of a good quote and a sensible opinion.

He was also a prolific letter writer to the opinion columns of various newspapers.

In the mould of the older generation of politicians, Vijay would type his own statements and letters, and would personally fax or e-mail them to the newspapers.

He was so used to expressing his views publicly that he continued to write to the newspapers even when he was made the parliamentary secretary in the Planta- tion Industries and Commodities Ministry.

I once reminded him that he was a member of the administration and might want to consider stopping his letter writing but Vijay just gave his usual wide toothy smile.

“Never mind-lah, they never told me to stop,” he said.

Vijay continued to write and there was no subject too sensitive or too taboo for him.

His dedication to politics is not surprising if one considers his family history.

His father, Dr. S. Seeveratnam, was DAP MP for Seremban Barat for a term in 1969 while his uncle S. Rajaratnam was the former Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

This was how Vijay was first introduced to me by the then Negri Sembilan Gerakan chairman Tan Sri Chan Choong Tak.

It was at a press conference to announce Vijay’s entry into a Gerakan in 1985 and it was a big coup for Gerakan to get the son of a former leading opposition leader to join its ranks.

Vijay then rose through the ranks and the highlight of his political career was being appointed as senator and made a parliamentary secretary.

He contested the Rahang state seat in the Negri Sembilan legislative assembly in the 1990 general election but lost.

Except during his four years at the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry, Vijay continued to maintain his medical practice Seeva Clinic at Jalan Tunku Hassan in Serem- ban.

Vijay leaves behind his wife, teacher T. Anucia, three sons and a daughter.

The eldest is 26 and the youngest is just 11

Categorised in: News Article

This post was written by CALD