The Sungai Siput conundrum

Light blue wave: Both Dr Jeyakumar and his wife R. Rani who contested in the Buntong state under PSM lost to Pakatan Harapan candidates in GE14.

IN 2008, Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj was one of the giant-killing success stories. Representing the small Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), he managed to topple Datuk Seri Samy Vellu in Sungai Siput, a seat that had only been held by Samy Vellu and Tun Sambanthan since the country’s independence.

However, during the historic 14th General Election that toppled the hitherto omnipotent Barisan National, Dr Jeyakumar became one of the casualties, garnering less than four percent of the votes and losing his deposit as voters chose the relatively unknown Kesavan Subra­man­iam of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.