GE15: 'Uncle Typist’ makes bid for Buntong seat but hopes dashed due to technical issue

Petition writer Vadivelu Nadaraja, 76, had hopes to be named as one of the candidates for the Buntong state seat on Saturday.

IPOH: Petition writer Vadivelu Nadaraja, 76, had hopes to be named as one of the candidates for the Buntong state seat on Saturday (Nov 5).

With the blessing of his wife and four children, Vadivelu who is also known as Ezekiel Velu, arrived at the Ipoh Barat nomination centre in Stadium Indera Mulia to register his name as an independent candidate.

His family had pooled their savings to help pay for the RM5,000 deposit required to register as a state assembly candidate.

"Why do I want to contest? It's simply because I am interested. I want to fight for the poor and old veterans like me," he said.

However, his papers were rejected after the officers told him that his proposer's address was not based in Buntong.

Savadiamah Anthony, a church friend of Vadivelu who arrived today as his proposer, expressed her regret.

"This is because my address is in Jelapang. We have looked around for another person to become his proposer but couldn’t find anyone," she said.

Vadivelu had made a name for himself among locals in Ipoh by providing typing services for anyone who needs help to fill up legal documents.

He has been doing the trade for over 50 years.

Despite feeling disappointed today, Vadivelu said he was not giving up.

"I will just wait for the next election," he said.

The Buntong state seat would now see a five-way fight with incumbent PN-Bersatu Sivasubramaniam Athinarayanan going against BN-MIC Jayagopi Subramaniam, PH-DAP Thulsi Thivani Manogaran and independent candidates Iruthiyam Sebastiar Anthonisamy and Muhammad Faiz Abdullah.

For Bercham state seat, the candidates are BN-MCA Ho Wai Mun, incumbent PH-DAP Ong Boon Piow and PN-Gerakan Lim Jin Sheng.

The Kepayang state seat candidates are PN-Bersatu Richard Ng, BN-MCA Lim Huey Shan and PH-DAP Nga Kor Ming.