Michael Devaraj

Career

Vellu had defeated Jeyakumar in Sungai Siput in the 1999 and 2004 general elections. Jeyakumar also practices as a medical doctor. In July 2011, he was arrested under the Emergency Ordinance, 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.

Achievements

• His win in the 2008 general election unseated the long-serving President of the Malaysian Indian Congress, Samy Vellu.

Politics

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.

Membership

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.