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It was a lovely sunny morning in Ipoh, Saturday 15th March 2008 as I waited for the newly elected MP for Sungai Siput, YB Dr. Michael Jayakumar Devaraj, in front of the SMJK Yuk Choy along Jalan Kuala Kangsar.

He arrived at 7.30am as promised.  I went out to greet him and he humbled me by coming out himself to greet me halfway.

We left for and arrived at the office in Sg. Siput where all the party members were already there waiting for him.  He greeted everybody and had a brief meeting with some senior members before we all left together to go to various areas  in and around Sg. Siput in several cars and motorcycles.

Upon reaching the respective areas, the YB stopped briefly to meet and thank each and every person regardless of age comprising all those on their daily chores of marketing and shopping, including patrons and owners of coffee shops, restaurants, mini-markets, etc, all long time residents there.  The response of people were at best described as CORDIAL.  The YB and his dedicated team distributed A LETTER OF THANKS written in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil Languages that also contained telephone contact numbers of the YB and some of his key members for them to make contacts on any matters affecting them.

Many passing by also took the trouble to stop their vehicles  some distance away to come over to congratulate the YB and his team members too. Their happiness too were genuinely portrayed through their facial expression and body language and one thing very significant is that they all harboured and lay very HIGH hopes on the newly elected MP.  They were confident that the YB would steadfastly work very hard to deliver as he had promised.

Many locals I spoke to also confirmed that they have frequently seen him and his team doing a multitude of social  and community development work for the people of the area  over the last ten years and that too in spite of having lost twice.  I could see the YB visibly touched by their overwhelming reception.

We then left for another part of Sg. Siput where a weekly open market was fully operational.  We walked over there after parking some distance away. Again the response was overwhelmingly warm and cordial.  The YB practically went to each and every stall and met everyone including the public.  Many seem to be having some problems or other to voice out and all was dully noted with the details of the complainants included.

This went on until the market’s closing time. Towards the last leg of his visit however, out of the blues came some burly young men prancing towards us claiming to be Hindraf supporters.

Those men first congratulated the YB while chanting Makkal Sakthi several times.  Then, one of them, obviously their leader, shot questions as to what the YB personally has and intend to do for release of the Hindraf Five.

He calmly explained that the fight to repeal that draconian law has been ongoing for a very long time indeed.  He said that he himself has been wearing a circular badge with the words Mansuhkan ISA Zalim (REPEAL The Cruel ISA) on it on a 24hrs/7days/12 months basis for the last ten years.

And he added that the current efforts were not just about the Hindraf Five ALONE but also for all those hundreds of poor detainees still being detained under the ISA. Then the said leader asked what can be done to speed up the process and what THEY can do to help, while toning down his voice a bit compared to his earlier approach.  To which the YB smiled and answered, “For a start, START by buying the said badge for RM1 and wear it on a 24hours basis and try to get as many people as possible to do so too.  When if at least half of our population start donning that badge on a daily basis, then the government would SURELY HAVE to take notice of it and would definitely do something, for that is the true display of Makkal Sakthi/People Power in the most silent of ways.  We are also outnumbered in Parliament but we hope to stoke the conscience of both BN/BR MPs’ to vote in favour of such a repeal.   They must have been appeased for they left after that.

We went back to the office and there were further meetings for the YB while the members had packed lunch and refreshments while awaiting further instruction.  There were plans to cover several villages before they wrap up for the day.  Due to my own urgency to return back to KL, I thanked the YB again and left feeling very happy for having spent a meaningful day with a simple leader of deeds and his people.

For that and for the sheer hope of more of such deeds to come from this man in the near future for the benefit of each and everyone at national level, trillions of thanks goes to YAB DSAI (Our PM-in-Waiting) for allowing him to contest under a PKR ticket in the first instance.

By K W Waran

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