David S. Vethamuthu (Tamil: வி. டேவிட்) (26 August 1932 – 10 July 2005) was a Malaysian unionist and former opposition politician.[1] He won a seat in the Malaysian parliament four times, representing the constituencies of Bangsar, Dato' Kramat, Damansara and Puchong. While in parliament, he was known to be fearless and vocal in raising issues concerning the Indian community in Malaysia. He later became the chairman of the World Tamil Association in 1984. He is famously known for making Labour Day a public holiday in Malaysia.[2]

Career

Trade unions

David was a founding member and secretary of Selangor Factories Association in 1953. He was known as 'King David' among local and international trade union circles and served as MTUC secretary-general from 1976 to 1992.[3] He was also the Transport Workers Union secretary-general from 1958 to 1995.

David was best known for setting up the Workers Institute of Technology (WIT) in Port Klang in the early 1970s, which provided education opportunities for thousands of workers' children over the years.

At the international level, he served as the executive board member of the International Transport Federation and the International Confederation of Free Trade Union, and represented Malaysian workers at numerous International Labour Organization (ILO) conferences in Geneva, Switzerland.

Politics

David was elected as Kuala Lumpur town councillor and became the Transport Workers Union's secretary in 1958. In 1959, he was elected Bangsar Member of Parliament under the ticket of the Malayan Peoples' Socialist Front as well as the state seat of Pantai, both in Selangor. However, in 1964, he lost his seat to Devan Nair of the People's Action Party although he kept his state seat.

In 1969, David returned to parliament by winning the Dato' Kramat seat in Penang and was re-elected to his Pantai state seat for the third time, both under the newly formed Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia. When Gerakan joined the Barisan Nasional in 1973, David resigned to join the Parti Keadilan Masyarakat Malaysia. In the 1974 general election, both his Dato' Kramat and Pantai seats were abolished in a re-delineation exercise. David turned to contest in the Jelutong parliament seat (also in Penang) against Rasiah Rajasingam, a former Gerakan colleague, but lost.

In 1978, as a candidate of the Democratic Action Party this time, David defeated Malaysian Indian Congress strongman, Deputy Minister S. Subramaniam for the Damansara parliament seat, but failed to retain his seat again in 1982 to Tan Koon Swan who later became Malaysian Chinese Association president. In 1986 and 1990, David was elected as Puchong Member of Parliament and, in 1995, stepped down due to health reasons.

David was arrested under the Emergency Ordinance in 1958. He was also arrested under Internal Security Act in 1964, 1969, (after the 13 May race riots) and 1987.

David became chairman of the World Tamil Association in 1984. He authored a book, Freedom that Never Came, chronicling his views on the post-independence period in Malaysia.[4]

Death

David died in July 2005.[5] He had served the workers for nearly 40 years from 1958 until he fell sick in 1995.

Recognition

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has called on the Selangor state government to name a road after veteran trade unionist, the late V. David, in appreciation of his lifelong struggle to fight for workers' rights.[6]

MTUC vice-president A. Balasubramaniam said there was already a precedent when Jalan 222 here was named after P. P. Narayanan, another noteworthy trade unionist. He said David deserved the honour because he served the workers for nearly 40 years from 1958 until he fell sick in 1995.

Cuepacs secretary-general Ahmad Shah Mohd Zin supported the proposal, saying union leaders should also be recognised "for their struggles and sacrifices in improving the lives of helpless workers."

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia
Year Constituency Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1959 Bangsar, Selangor V. David (LPM) 9,734 40.59% Koh Pooi Kee (IND) 6,821 28.45% 24,177 2,913 68.01%
Lau Joo Kooi (MCA) 5,036 21.00%
Ong Yeow Kay (PPP) 2,388 9.96%
1964 V. David (LPM) 12,686 33.24% Devan Nair (PAP) 13,494 35.36% 39,453 808 67.72%
Koh Pooi Kee (MCA) 9,761 25.58%
Chew Choo Soot (PPP) 2,219 5.81%
1969 Dato' Kramat, Pulau Pinang V. David (Gerakan) 17,272 75.40% Lim Chong Hai (MCA) 5,635 24.60% 23,955 11,637 77.14%
1974 Jelutong, Pulau Pinang V. David (PEKEMAS) 6,955 20.05% Rasiah Rajasingam (Gerakan) 16,112 46.45% 35,560 5,960 79.74%
Gooi Hock Seng @ Goi Hock Seng (DAP) 10,152 29.27%
Teh Eng Siang (PSRM) 1,467 4.23%
1978 Damansara, Kuala Lumpur V. David (DAP) 21,461 47.43% Subramaniam Sinniah (MIC) 18,239 40.31% Unknown 3,222 Unknown
Syed Ibrahim Syed Abdul Rahman (PAS) 5,386 11.90%
Thinakaran Rajakannu (PEKEMAS) 161 0.36%
1982 V. David (DAP) 20,137 34.53% Tan Koon Swan (MCA) 34,659 59.43% 58,772 14,522 67.88%
Ramli Mohamed Yasin (PAS) 3,527 6.05%
1986 Puchong, Selangor V. David (DAP) 35,145 58.72% Lui Thai Heng (MCA) 20,616 34.45% 61,052 14,529 75.37%
Asri Janang (PAS) 2,409 4.02%
Yeoh Poh San (SDP) 1,684 2.81%
1990 V. David (DAP) 34,967 51.69% Tan Yee Kew (MCA) 32,686 48.31% 68,684 2,281 69.57%

References

  1. ↑ "Let Us Remember V. David!". Dapmalaysia.org. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "V. David, the man who made 'May Day' possible". Malaysia Today. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Past Leadership – Malaysian Trades Union Congress". Mtuc.org.my. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  4. ↑ David, V. Freedom that never came V. David. Stephen Chin.
  5. ↑ "Praise for former DAP strongman – Nation". The Star Online. 12 July 2005. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "MTUC: Name a street in honour of V David". Citizens Journal. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
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