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{{Short description|Malaysian politician}}
<gallery>
{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
Image:http://bp1.blogger.com/_RuLNIIf3h2Y/SBLSNW_UExI/AAAAAAAAABg/JJeXW1qsg2A/S240/April+26+-+
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Indian name|Sivakumar|Varatharaju Naidu}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[Malay titles|Yang Berhormat Tuan]]
| name = V. Sivakumar
| native_name = {{nobold|வ. சிவகுமார்}}
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of Parliament|MP]]
| image = V. Sivakumar 2023(cropped).jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Sivakumar s/o Varatharaju Naidu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|12|05|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Perak]], [[Malaysia]]
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office = [[Minister of Human Resources (Malaysia)|Minister of Human Resources]]
| deputy = [[Mustapha Sakmud]]
| term_start = 3 December 2022
| term_end = 12 December 2023
| monarch = [[Abdullah of Pahang|Abdullah]]
| primeminister = [[Anwar Ibrahim]]
| predecessor = [[Saravanan Murugan]]
| successor = [[Steven Sim|Steven Sim Chee Keong]]
| constituency = [[Batu Gajah (federal constituency)|Batu Gajah]]
| office1 = Deputy Secretary-General of the <br /> [[Democratic Action Party]]
| term_start1 = 12 November 2017
| term_en1 =
| 1blankname1 = Secretary-General
| 1namedata1 = [[Lim Guan Eng]] <br> {{small|(2017–2022)}} <br> [[Anthony Loke Siew Fook]] <br> {{small|(since 2022)}}
| 2blankname1 = National Chairman
| 2namedata1 = [[Tan Kok Wai]] <br> {{small|(2017–2022)}} <br> [[Lim Guan Eng]] <br> {{small|(since 2022)}}
| predecessor1 =
| alongside1 = [[Nga Kor Ming]] {{small|(2017–2022)}} & <br> [[Teresa Kok Suh Sim]] {{small|(2017–2022)}} & <br> [[Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji]] {{small|(since 2022)}} & <br> [[Liew Chin Tong]] {{small|(since 2022)}}
| office2 = Speaker of the <br> [[Perak State Legislative Assembly]]
| monarch2 = [[Azlan Shah of Perak|Azlan Shah]]
| 1blankname2 = Menteri Besar
| 1namedata2 = [[Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin]]
| term_start2 = 25 April 2008
| term_end2 = 7 May 2009
| predecessor2 = Junus Wahid
| successor2 = [[R. Ganesan]]
| constituency2 = [[Tronoh (state constituency)|Tronoh]]
| constituency_MP3 = [[Batu Gajah (federal constituency)|Batu Gajah]]
| parliament3 = Malaysian
| term_start3 = 5 May 2013
| term_end3 =
| majority3 = 38,410 ([[2013 Malaysian general election|2013]]) <br> 43,868 ([[2018 Malaysian general election|2018]]) <br> 53,836 ([[2022 Malaysian general election|2022]])
| predecessor3 = [[Fong Po Kuan]] <br> ([[Pakatan Rakyat|PR]]–[[Democratic Action Party|DAP]])
| successor3 =
| constituency_AM4 = [[Tronoh (state constituency)|Tronoh]]
| assembly4 = Perak State Legislative
| term_start4 = 8 March 2008
| term_end4 = 5 May 2013
| majority4 = 2,571 ([[2008 Malaysian general election|2008]])
| predecessor4 = Lee Kon Yin <br> (BN–MCA)
| successor4 = [[Paul Yong Choo Kiong]] <br> (PR–DAP)
| citizenship = [[Malaysian people|Malaysian]]
| party = [[Democratic Action Party]] (DAP)
| otherparty = [[Pakatan Rakyat]] (PR) <br> {{small|(2008–2015)}} <br> [[Pakatan Harapan]] (PH) <br> {{small|(since 2015)}}
| occupation = Politician
| profession = [[Jurisprudence|Legal Philosopher]]<br />[[Businessman]]
| majority =
| father = N. Varatharaju
| mother = S. Karunakari
| spouse = S Easwari
| alma_mater = [[University of Malaya]]
| children =
| website =
| footnotes =
| order =
}}


'''Sivakumar s/o Varatharaju Naidu''' ({{lang-ta|வ. சிவகுமார்|Va. Civakumār}}; born 5 December 1970), better known as '''V. Sivakumar''', is a [[Malaysian people|Malaysian]] [[politician]] who has served as the [[Dewan Rakyat|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Batu Gajah (federal constituency)|Batu Gajah]] since May 2013. He served as the [[Minister of Human Resources (Malaysia)|Minister of Human Resources]] in the Unity Government administration under Prime Minister [[Anwar Ibrahim]] from December 2022 to December 2023 and Member of the [[Perak State Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) for [[Tronoh (state constituency)|Tronoh]] from March 2008 to May 2013. He also served as Speaker of the assembly from April 2008 to May 2009. He is a member of the [[Democratic Action Party]] (DAP), a component party of the [[Pakatan Harapan]] (PH) and formerly [[Pakatan Rakyat]] (PR) opposition coalitions. He has also served as the Deputy Secretary-General of DAP since November 2017. He was also the sole Cabinet minister of the [[Malaysian Indians|Indian]] ethnicity prior to the [[2023 Malaysian cabinet reshuffle|2023 cabinet reshuffle]].
</gallery></gallery>'''V. Sivakumar''' is a [[Malaysia]]n politician from the [[Democratic Action Party]], and the current Speaker of the [[Perak]] State Assembly. He was the first ethnic Indian to become the [[Speaker (politics)|speaker]] of a Malaysian legislative body, succeeding [[Junus Wahid]] as the previous speaker of the State Assembly. Sivakumar entered politics in 1997, serving as political secretary to [[M. Kulasegaran]] at one point, before winning the seat of Tronoh in the Perak State Assembly in the [[Malaysian general election, 2008|2008 general election]], defeating [[Lee Kim Choy]] with a majority of 2,571. Sivakumar holds a Bachelor's in Legal Philosophy and a Master's in Business Administration.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title= DAP rep sworn in as Perak Speaker | date=[[2008-04-26]] | publisher= | url =http://themalaysianinsider.com/mni/dap-rep-sworn-in-as-perak-speaker.html | work =The Malaysian Insider | pages = | accessdate = 2008-04-27 | language = }}</ref>

Prior to his political career, he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Malaya and a professional qualification in insurance administration from the Life Office Management Association in the United States.

== Early life and entry into politics ==

Sivakumar was born in 1970 to M. Varatharaju and S. Karunakari in Perak, Malaysia. He received his Bachelor's degree in Economics with a specialization in Public Administration from the [[University of Malaya]] in 1994. In 2000, he obtained an Associate degree in Insurance Agency Administration from the [[Life Office Management Association]] in the United States.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Bernama|date=2022-12-04|title=Pernah jadi speaker sidang bawah pokok, Sivakumar kini jadi menteri|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/646791|access-date=2022-12-04|website=Malaysiakini}}</ref>

Sivakumar entered politics in 1997, once serving as political secretary to Ipoh Barat MP [[M. Kulasegaran]], before winning the [[Tronoh]] state seat in the [[2008 Malaysian general election|2008 general election]], defeating Lee Kim Choy with a majority of 2,571.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=Undi.Info (Malaysiakini)|url=http://undi.info/ax/state/pr/2008/states/N33/P66.html|title=Perak State Election Results 2008 (Tronoh)|date=8 March 2008|access-date=8 May 2009}}</ref> Sivakumar holds a Bachelor's in Legal Philosophy and a Master's in Business Administration.<ref>{{cite news| title=DAP rep sworn in as Perak Speaker| date=26 April 2008| url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/4548-dap-rep-sworn-in-as-perak-speaker| work=The Malaysian Insider| access-date=27 April 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513042701/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/4548-dap-rep-sworn-in-as-perak-speaker| archive-date=13 May 2009| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}</ref> Sivakumar was nominated speaker by Pakatan Rakyat and while Barisan Nasional nominated Junus Wahid, the incumbent, to continue as speaker. A fired up debate ensued between the two sides, and Sivakumar was elected speaker through secret ballot on<ref name="installdate">{{cite web| url = http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/26/nation/21075677&sec=nation| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604013631/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/26/nation/21075677&sec=nation| archive-date = 2011-06-04| title = History in Perak, after rows}}</ref> 25 April 2008 at 4.05pm with 31 votes, against Junus' 28 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|work=The Star|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/26/nation/21075677&sec=nation|title=History in Perak, after rows|date=26 August 2008|access-date=8 May 2009}}</ref> [[Hee Yit Foong]] was appointed deputy speaker soon after.

In the [[2013 Malaysian general election|2013 general election]], Sivakumar contested and won the parliamentary constituency of [[Batu Gajah]] in Perak.

== Political career ==
=== Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (2008–2009) ===
Sivakumar began his political career in 1997 when he joined the Democratic Action Party (DAP). In 2008, he ran for the Parliament seat of Batu Gajah in Perak and was elected as a first-time member of parliament. He subsequently became the Political Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources, M Kulasegaran.<ref name=":0" />

He is the first ethnic Indian to become the speaker of a Malaysian legislature, succeeding Junus Wahid, the previous speaker of the State Assembly from [[United Malays National Organisation]] (UMNO) and [[Barisan Nasional]] (BN).

Sivakumar's tenure as speaker was shrouded in controversy surrounding his handling of the [[2009 Perak constitutional crisis]], where the opposition Barisan Nasional managed to obtain three defections from the elected government, enabling Barisan Nasional under [[Zambry Abdul Kadir]] to form the new government. Sivakumar had the members of the disputed new Barisan Nasional cabinet suspended for contempt of assembly.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=Sampuran Singh|url=http://www.nriinternet.com/NRIpoliticians/ASIA/Malaysia/NEWS/2009/1_Suspend.htm|title=V. Sivakumar, Speaker of Perak state legislative assembly suspend six state executive council members|date=18 February 2009|access-date=8 May 2009}}</ref> Many blogs, particularly [[Malaysia Today]] run by the influential royal [[Raja Petra Kamaruddin]], and news portals in cyberspace praised him for his resilience in insisting for an official [[vote of no-confidence]] against the incumbent [[Pakatan Rakyat]] government of [[Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin]] before taking charge. The mainstream media of Malaysia criticised him for being [[Partisanship (politics)|partisan]] and biased against Barisan Nasional.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=The New Straits Times|url=http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Columns/2547850/Article/index_html|title=A dark cloud over Thursday's assembly sitting|date=4 April 2009|access-date=6 May 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==== 2009 Perak constitutional crisis ====

{{Main|2009 Perak constitutional crisis}}

On 27 February 2009, Sivakumar called for an emergency sitting of the Assembly to be held on 3 March 2009 to vote on two motions, the first motion being the affirmation of [[Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin]]'s government as the legitimate one and the second motion being the approval to dissolve the assembly to pave way for fresh polls in the state.<ref>{{cite news | title= Perak Speaker calls emergency session next Tuesday | date= 27 February 2009 | publisher= The Malaysian Insider | url= http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/19321-perak-speaker-calls-emergency-session-next-tuesday | access-date= 27 February 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090228061128/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/19321-perak-speaker-calls-emergency-session-next-tuesday | archive-date= 28 February 2009 | url-status= dead | df= dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title =Perak Speaker calls for emergency sitting on March 3 | date =27 February 2009 | url =http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/2/27/nation/20090227164604&sec=nation | work =The Star Malaysia | access-date =27 February 2009 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090228065537/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2009%2F2%2F27%2Fnation%2F20090227164604&sec=nation | archive-date =28 February 2009 | url-status =dead | df =dmy-all }}</ref> Defying Sivakumar's directive, the Perak legal advisor, Ahmad Kamal Mohd Shahid prevented the notification of the emergency sitting from being released because the meeting did not obtain the consent of the Monarch.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=Siam Daily News|url=http://english.siamdailynews.com/asia-news/southeastern-asia-news/malaysia-news/perak-emergency-assembly-meeting-illegal.html|title=Perak Emergency Assembly Meeting Illegal|date=1 March 2008|access-date=8 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123201129/http://english.siamdailynews.com/asia-news/southeastern-asia-news/malaysia-news/perak-emergency-assembly-meeting-illegal.html|archive-date=23 January 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Sivakumar's lawyer Augustine Anthony countered the legal advisor citing that as an adjourned sitting, the session is not dissolved or prorogued and therefore does not require the consent of the Sultan.<ref>{{cite news | title = Perak state legal advisor blocks notification of emergency sitting | date = 27 February 2009 | url = http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/19329-perak-state-legal-advisor-blocks-notification-of-emergency-sitting | work = The Malaysian Insider | access-date = 27 February 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090302040548/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/19329-perak-state-legal-advisor-blocks-notification-of-emergency-sitting | archive-date = 2 March 2009 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Sivakumar cited the legislature's Standing Orders 89 as giving him final say in any interpretation of the state assembly's Standing Orders.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=The Malaysian Insider|url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/19431-speaker-says-standing-orders-give-him-final-say-on-interpretation|title=Speaker says Standing Orders give him final say on interpretation|date=1 March 2009|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302052012/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/19431-speaker-says-standing-orders-give-him-final-say-on-interpretation|archive-date=2 March 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 2 March 2009 the Perak state secretary's office issued a directive to lock the gates to the state assembly building ahead of the emergency sitting of the state assembly. The same day Sivakumar announced that he was suspending the assembly's secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri with immediate effect and that the emergency meeting of the assembly scheduled for 3 March would go ahead as planned. The suspension action was taken because of Abdullah's "failure to carry out his duties professionally", said Sivakumar.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=The Malaysian Insider |url=http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/NewsBreak/20090302224618/Article/index_html |title=Perak Speaker suspends state assembly secretary |date=2 March 2009 |access-date=2 March 2009 }} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

=== 3 March emergency sitting ===

On 3 March 2009, amidst a strong police presence,<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=The Nut Graph|url=http://thenutgraph.com/BNs-disrespect-for-democracy|title=BN's disrespect for democracy|date=13 March 2009|access-date=8 May 2009}}</ref> Sivakumar attempted to convene the emergency session of the assembly, but [[Pakatan Rakyat]] assemblypersons were barred from entering the State Secretariat. Sivakumar, wearing his full speaker robes and a songkok declared a tree in the parking lot of the State Secretariat as the meeting place. The session was witnessed by curious onlookers<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=Asia Times Online|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/KC06Ae01.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310034229/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/KC06Ae01.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=10 March 2009|title=Malaysian democracy under a tree|date=6 March 2009|access-date=8 May 2009}}</ref> defying police warnings to stay away<ref>{{Cite web|work=The Star|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/3/nation/3390420&sec=nation|title=Stay away from building, says CPO|date=3 March 2009|access-date=8 May 2009}}</ref> a motion of confidence in [[Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin]]'s government, a motion to affirm the suspension of [[Zambry Abdul Kadir]]'s [[Barisan Nasional]] state exco and a motion to dissolve the assembly for snap polls were passed unanimously, 27–0.<ref>{{Cite web|work=The Star|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/3/nation/20090303085400&sec=nation|title=Perak's Assembly calls for dissolution, polls (updated)|date=3 March 2009|access-date=8 May 2009}}</ref>

Barisan Nasional protested the legitimacy of the emergency session and none of their assembly members attended. Nizar despatched a letter to [[Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak|Sultan Azlan Shah]] to request an audience to discuss the dissolution of the assembly.

The tree used for shade during the session was then dubbed the "[[Democracy tree|Democracy Tree]]" by [[Pakatan Rakyat]]<ref>{{Cite web|work=The Star|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/9/nation/3438324&sec=nation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310174415/http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2009%2F3%2F9%2Fnation%2F3438324&sec=nation|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2009|title=Pakatan's Tree of Democracy|date=9 March 2009|access-date=8 May 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and a [[memorial plaque]] was unveiled on 8 March 2009, the first anniversary of the [[2008 Malaysian general election|election which swept Pakatan Rakyat to power in Perak]]. A webpage commemorating the tree was also created.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.democracytree.org/ |title=Democracy Tree Perak |access-date=9 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402132650/http://www.democracytree.org/ |archive-date=2 April 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Batu Gajah MP (2013–present) ===
In 2013, Sivakumar was re-elected to the Parliament seat of Batu Gajah and has held the seat ever since.<ref name=":0" />

=== Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Action Party (2017–present) ===
Sivakumar was appointed as Deputy Secretary-General of DAP on 12 November 2017 after the 16th National Congress and Central Executive Committee (CEC) election along with then [[Seputeh (federal constituency)|Seputeh]] MP [[Teresa Kok]] and then [[Taiping (federal constituency)|Taiping]] MP [[Nga Kor Ming]]. On 20 March 2022, Sivakumar was reappointed to the position although losing in the 17th National Congress and leadership election by being co-opted into the CEC for his reappointment.

=== Minister of Human Resources ===
Sivakumar was appointed as the Minister of Human Resources by [[Anwar Ibrahim]] in 2022. He is the only ethnic Indian full minister in [[Anwar Ibrahim Cabinet]].

== Personal life ==
Sivakumar is married to a teacher, S. Easwari, in Ipoh. The couple have three children together. He is a member of the board of directors of Yayasan Perak, Ipoh, and the Kuala Lumpur-based Rubber Export Promotion Council Malaysia.<ref name=":0" />

==Election results==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Perak State Legislative Assembly]]'''<ref name="election results">{{cite web|url=http://semak.spr.gov.my/spr/laporan/5_KedudukanAkhir.php |title=Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri |publisher=[[Election Commission of Malaysia]] |language=ms |access-date=4 February 2017 }} Percentage figures based on total turnout.</ref><ref name="undiinfo">{{Cite web
| title = Malaysia General Election
| work = undiinfo Malaysian Election Data
| publisher = [[Malaysiakini]]
| url = http://undi.info/#
| access-date = 4 February 2017}} Results only available from the [[2004 Malaysian general election|2004 election]].</ref>
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!|Ballots cast
!|Majority
!|Turnout
|-
|[[1999 Malaysian state elections|1999]]
|N22 [[Taman Canning (state constituency)|Taman Canning]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|Sivakumar Varatharaju ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|DAP]])
|align="right" |8,462
|43.13%
|{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''Hiew Yew Can''' ([[Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia|'''Gerakan''']])
|align="right" |'''11,158'''
|'''56.87%'''
|19,960
|2,696
|67.8%
|-
|[[2008 Perak state election|2008]]
|'''N33 [[Tronoh (state constituency)|Tronoh]]'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Sivakumar Varatharaju'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|align="right" |'''9,302'''
|'''58.02%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Lee Kim Choy ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]])
|align="right" |6,731
|41.98%
|16,446
|2,571
|68.23%
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Dewan Rakyat|Parliament of Malaysia]]'''<ref name="election results"/><ref name="undiinfo"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://resultpru13.spr.gov.my/module/keputusan/paparan/paparan_laporan.php|title=KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13|work=Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum|publisher=[[Election Commission of Malaysia]] |language=ms|access-date=24 March 2017}}</ref>
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!|Ballots cast
!|Majority
!|Turnout
|-
|[[2013 Malaysian general election|2013]]
| rowspan="5" |'''P066 [[Batu Gajah (federal constituency)|Batu Gajah]], [[Perak]]'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Sivakumar Varatharaju'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|align="right" |'''53,770'''
|'''76.52%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Loo Thin Tuck ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]])
|align="right" |15,360
|21.86%
|70,270
|38,410
|80.20%
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[2018 Malaysian general election|2018]]
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Keadilan}} |
| rowspan="2" |'''Sivakumar Varatharaju''' ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
| rowspan="2" align="right"|'''52,850'''
| rowspan="2" |'''84.17%'''
| {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
| Leong Chee Wai ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]])
| align="right" |8,982
| 14.31%
| rowspan="2" | 62,787
| rowspan="2" | 43,868
| rowspan="2" | 77.13%
|-
|bgcolor={{Party color|Parti Sosialis Malaysia}} |
|Kunasekaran Krishnan ([[Parti Sosialis Malaysia|PSM]])
| align="right" |955
| align="right"|1.52%
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[2022 Malaysian general election|2022]]
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/PH}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{nowrap|'''Sivakumar Varatharaju'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
| rowspan="2" align="right" |'''60,999'''
| rowspan="2" |'''81.38%'''
| bgcolor={{party color|Perikatan Nasional}} |
| Woo Cheong Yuen ([[Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia|Gerakan]])
| align="right" |7,163
| align=right|9.56%
| rowspan="2" |75,935
| rowspan="2" |53,836
| rowspan="2" |67.90%
|-
| {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
| Teoh Chin Chong ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]])
| align="right" |6,793
| align=right|9.06%
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Anwar cabinet}}
{{Malaysia 15th FedRep}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sivakumar, V.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sivakumar, V.}}
[[Category:Malaysians of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian politicians of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian politicians of Tamil descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Malaysian politicians]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Political office-holders in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Democratic Action Party (Malaysia) politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Dewan Rakyat]]

[[Category:Members of the Perak State Legislative Assembly]]
{{Malaysia-politician-stub}}
[[Category:Speakers of the Perak State Legislative Assembly]]

[[Category:Malaysian politicians]]

Latest revision as of 11:59, 30 May 2024

In this Indian name, the name Varatharaju Naidu is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Sivakumar.
Yang Berhormat Tuan
V. Sivakumar
MP
வ. சிவகுமார்
Minister of Human Resources
In office
3 December 2022 – 12 December 2023
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim
DeputyMustapha Sakmud
Preceded bySaravanan Murugan
Succeeded bySteven Sim Chee Keong
ConstituencyBatu Gajah
Deputy Secretary-General of the
Democratic Action Party
Assumed office
12 November 2017
Serving with Nga Kor Ming (2017–2022) &
Teresa Kok Suh Sim (2017–2022) &
Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji (since 2022) &
Liew Chin Tong (since 2022)
Secretary-GeneralLim Guan Eng
(2017–2022)
Anthony Loke Siew Fook
(since 2022)
National ChairmanTan Kok Wai
(2017–2022)
Lim Guan Eng
(since 2022)
Speaker of the
Perak State Legislative Assembly
In office
25 April 2008 – 7 May 2009
MonarchAzlan Shah
Menteri BesarMohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
Preceded byJunus Wahid
Succeeded byR. Ganesan
ConstituencyTronoh
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Batu Gajah
Assumed office
5 May 2013
Preceded byFong Po Kuan
(PR–DAP)
Majority38,410 (2013)
43,868 (2018)
53,836 (2022)
Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly
for Tronoh
In office
8 March 2008 – 5 May 2013
Preceded byLee Kon Yin
(BN–MCA)
Succeeded byPaul Yong Choo Kiong
(PR–DAP)
Majority2,571 (2008)
Personal details
Born
Sivakumar s/o Varatharaju Naidu

(1970-12-05) 5 December 1970 (age 53)
Perak, Malaysia
CitizenshipMalaysian
Political partyDemocratic Action Party (DAP)
Other political
affiliations		Pakatan Rakyat (PR)
(2008–2015)
Pakatan Harapan (PH)
(since 2015)
SpouseS Easwari
Parents
  • N. Varatharaju (father)
  • S. Karunakari (mother)
Alma materUniversity of Malaya
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLegal Philosopher
Businessman

Sivakumar s/o Varatharaju Naidu (Tamil: வ. சிவகுமார், romanized: Va. Civakumār; born 5 December 1970), better known as V. Sivakumar, is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Batu Gajah since May 2013. He served as the Minister of Human Resources in the Unity Government administration under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim from December 2022 to December 2023 and Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Tronoh from March 2008 to May 2013. He also served as Speaker of the assembly from April 2008 to May 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) and formerly Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition coalitions. He has also served as the Deputy Secretary-General of DAP since November 2017. He was also the sole Cabinet minister of the Indian ethnicity prior to the 2023 cabinet reshuffle.

Prior to his political career, he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Malaya and a professional qualification in insurance administration from the Life Office Management Association in the United States.

Early life and entry into politics[edit]

Sivakumar was born in 1970 to M. Varatharaju and S. Karunakari in Perak, Malaysia. He received his Bachelor's degree in Economics with a specialization in Public Administration from the University of Malaya in 1994. In 2000, he obtained an Associate degree in Insurance Agency Administration from the Life Office Management Association in the United States.[1]

Sivakumar entered politics in 1997, once serving as political secretary to Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, before winning the Tronoh state seat in the 2008 general election, defeating Lee Kim Choy with a majority of 2,571.[2] Sivakumar holds a Bachelor's in Legal Philosophy and a Master's in Business Administration.[3] Sivakumar was nominated speaker by Pakatan Rakyat and while Barisan Nasional nominated Junus Wahid, the incumbent, to continue as speaker. A fired up debate ensued between the two sides, and Sivakumar was elected speaker through secret ballot on[4] 25 April 2008 at 4.05pm with 31 votes, against Junus' 28 votes.[5] Hee Yit Foong was appointed deputy speaker soon after.

In the 2013 general election, Sivakumar contested and won the parliamentary constituency of Batu Gajah in Perak.

Political career[edit]

Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (2008–2009)[edit]

Sivakumar began his political career in 1997 when he joined the Democratic Action Party (DAP). In 2008, he ran for the Parliament seat of Batu Gajah in Perak and was elected as a first-time member of parliament. He subsequently became the Political Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources, M Kulasegaran.[1]

He is the first ethnic Indian to become the speaker of a Malaysian legislature, succeeding Junus Wahid, the previous speaker of the State Assembly from United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and Barisan Nasional (BN).

Sivakumar's tenure as speaker was shrouded in controversy surrounding his handling of the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis, where the opposition Barisan Nasional managed to obtain three defections from the elected government, enabling Barisan Nasional under Zambry Abdul Kadir to form the new government. Sivakumar had the members of the disputed new Barisan Nasional cabinet suspended for contempt of assembly.[6] Many blogs, particularly Malaysia Today run by the influential royal Raja Petra Kamaruddin, and news portals in cyberspace praised him for his resilience in insisting for an official vote of no-confidence against the incumbent Pakatan Rakyat government of Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin before taking charge. The mainstream media of Malaysia criticised him for being partisan and biased against Barisan Nasional.[7]

2009 Perak constitutional crisis[edit]

Main article: 2009 Perak constitutional crisis

On 27 February 2009, Sivakumar called for an emergency sitting of the Assembly to be held on 3 March 2009 to vote on two motions, the first motion being the affirmation of Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin's government as the legitimate one and the second motion being the approval to dissolve the assembly to pave way for fresh polls in the state.[8][9] Defying Sivakumar's directive, the Perak legal advisor, Ahmad Kamal Mohd Shahid prevented the notification of the emergency sitting from being released because the meeting did not obtain the consent of the Monarch.[10] Sivakumar's lawyer Augustine Anthony countered the legal advisor citing that as an adjourned sitting, the session is not dissolved or prorogued and therefore does not require the consent of the Sultan.[11]

Sivakumar cited the legislature's Standing Orders 89 as giving him final say in any interpretation of the state assembly's Standing Orders.[12] On 2 March 2009 the Perak state secretary's office issued a directive to lock the gates to the state assembly building ahead of the emergency sitting of the state assembly. The same day Sivakumar announced that he was suspending the assembly's secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri with immediate effect and that the emergency meeting of the assembly scheduled for 3 March would go ahead as planned. The suspension action was taken because of Abdullah's "failure to carry out his duties professionally", said Sivakumar.[13]

3 March emergency sitting[edit]

On 3 March 2009, amidst a strong police presence,[14] Sivakumar attempted to convene the emergency session of the assembly, but Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons were barred from entering the State Secretariat. Sivakumar, wearing his full speaker robes and a songkok declared a tree in the parking lot of the State Secretariat as the meeting place. The session was witnessed by curious onlookers[15] defying police warnings to stay away[16] a motion of confidence in Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin's government, a motion to affirm the suspension of Zambry Abdul Kadir's Barisan Nasional state exco and a motion to dissolve the assembly for snap polls were passed unanimously, 27–0.[17]

Barisan Nasional protested the legitimacy of the emergency session and none of their assembly members attended. Nizar despatched a letter to Sultan Azlan Shah to request an audience to discuss the dissolution of the assembly.

The tree used for shade during the session was then dubbed the "Democracy Tree" by Pakatan Rakyat[18] and a memorial plaque was unveiled on 8 March 2009, the first anniversary of the election which swept Pakatan Rakyat to power in Perak. A webpage commemorating the tree was also created.[19]

Batu Gajah MP (2013–present)[edit]

In 2013, Sivakumar was re-elected to the Parliament seat of Batu Gajah and has held the seat ever since.[1]

Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Action Party (2017–present)[edit]

Sivakumar was appointed as Deputy Secretary-General of DAP on 12 November 2017 after the 16th National Congress and Central Executive Committee (CEC) election along with then Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and then Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming. On 20 March 2022, Sivakumar was reappointed to the position although losing in the 17th National Congress and leadership election by being co-opted into the CEC for his reappointment.

Minister of Human Resources[edit]

Sivakumar was appointed as the Minister of Human Resources by Anwar Ibrahim in 2022. He is the only ethnic Indian full minister in Anwar Ibrahim Cabinet.

Personal life[edit]

Sivakumar is married to a teacher, S. Easwari, in Ipoh. The couple have three children together. He is a member of the board of directors of Yayasan Perak, Ipoh, and the Kuala Lumpur-based Rubber Export Promotion Council Malaysia.[1]

Election results[edit]

Perak State Legislative Assembly[20][21]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1999 N22 Taman Canning Sivakumar Varatharaju (DAP) 8,462 43.13% Hiew Yew Can (Gerakan) 11,158 56.87% 19,960 2,696 67.8%
2008 N33 Tronoh Sivakumar Varatharaju (DAP) 9,302 58.02% Lee Kim Choy (MCA) 6,731 41.98% 16,446 2,571 68.23%
Parliament of Malaysia[20][21][22]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2013 P066 Batu Gajah, Perak Sivakumar Varatharaju (DAP) 53,770 76.52% Loo Thin Tuck (MCA) 15,360 21.86% 70,270 38,410 80.20%
2018 Sivakumar Varatharaju (DAP) 52,850 84.17% Leong Chee Wai (MCA) 8,982 14.31% 62,787 43,868 77.13%
Kunasekaran Krishnan (PSM) 955 1.52%
2022 Sivakumar Varatharaju (DAP) 60,999 81.38% Woo Cheong Yuen (Gerakan) 7,163 9.56% 75,935 53,836 67.90%
Teoh Chin Chong (MCA) 6,793 9.06%

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Bernama (4 December 2022). "Pernah jadi speaker sidang bawah pokok, Sivakumar kini jadi menteri". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Perak State Election Results 2008 (Tronoh)". Undi.Info (Malaysiakini). 8 March 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  3. ^ "DAP rep sworn in as Perak Speaker". The Malaysian Insider. 26 April 2008. Archived from the original on 13 May 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  4. ^ "History in Perak, after rows". Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
  5. ^ "History in Perak, after rows". The Star. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  6. ^ "V. Sivakumar, Speaker of Perak state legislative assembly suspend six state executive council members". Sampuran Singh. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  7. ^ "A dark cloud over Thursday's assembly sitting". The New Straits Times. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2009. [dead link]
  8. ^ "Perak Speaker calls emergency session next Tuesday". The Malaysian Insider. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  9. ^ "Perak Speaker calls for emergency sitting on March 3". The Star Malaysia. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  10. ^ "Perak Emergency Assembly Meeting Illegal". Siam Daily News. 1 March 2008. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  11. ^ "Perak state legal advisor blocks notification of emergency sitting". The Malaysian Insider. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  12. ^ "Speaker says Standing Orders give him final say on interpretation". The Malaysian Insider. 1 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  13. ^ "Perak Speaker suspends state assembly secretary". The Malaysian Insider. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009. [dead link]
  14. ^ "BN's disrespect for democracy". The Nut Graph. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  15. ^ "Malaysian democracy under a tree". Asia Times Online. 6 March 2009. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ "Stay away from building, says CPO". The Star. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  17. ^ "Perak's Assembly calls for dissolution, polls (updated)". The Star. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  18. ^ "Pakatan's Tree of Democracy". The Star. 9 March 2009. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  19. ^ "Democracy Tree Perak". Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2009.
  20. ^ a b "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  21. ^ a b "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  22. ^ "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
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