The Sambanthan legacy

Going strong: Uma was involved in many projects after her husband’s death. Here, as National Land Finance Cooperative Society chairman, she’s with Permata Merchant Bank’s Datuk Abdul Samad Yahaya, signing a RM50mil syndicated credit facility in 1990.

AS the social contract in Malaysia has evolved, and the MIC played an increasingly servile role in the Barisan Nasional formula, it may be difficult for people to understand that the late Tun V.T. Sambanthan did not see himself as a leader of Indians, but a national leader for all Malaysians.

This distinction was very clear and important to him, says Toh Puan Uma Sambanthan.