LETTERS: It is my profound duty as co-partner then, while serving in the Barisan Nasional supreme council, to write this tribute on the passing of the late Tun S. Samy Vellu.
He was my contemporary when I was the president of People's Progressive Party in the year 1978-1981.
He was then the MIC president and part of the Barisan Nasional supreme council headed by the late Tun Hussein Onn.
Respective leaders of the component parties in the Barisan Nasional supreme council brought national issues for deliberation during the meetings.
During the discussions, he was very vocal, adamant particularly on the issues pertaining to the Indian community which he raised during the meetings.
There were some disagreements raised by some members in the Council pertaining to the issues which were discussed.
However, based on the consensus reached by the leaders of the component parties, ultimately the decision was brought before the cabinet and subsequently tabled in Parliament before being enacted as an Act of Parliament.
Some of Tun Samy Vellu's greatest contributions to the Indian Community was the setting up of the Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED), TAFE (Technical and Further Education) College in Seremban and AIMST University in Bedong, Kedah.
I extend my deepest condolences to Vell Paari and the family.
Senator (R) S. Rajah
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times