Dato' Sivarraajh s/o Chandran (Tamil: சி. சிவராஜ், romanized: Ci. Civarāj; born 16 September 1976) is a Malaysian politician who has served as a Senator since March 2023. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cameron Highlands from May to November 2018. He is a member of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and briefly was an independent politician from June 2023 until September 2024. He was the Vice President of MIC and served as the Youth Chief of MIC from November 2013 to October 2018 as well as Division Chief of MIC of Taman Bukit Kuchai Baru prior to his resignation from the party in June 2023.[citation needed]
Sivarraajh Chandran | |
|---|---|
| சி. சிவராஜ் | |
| Senator Appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong | |
| Assumed office 20 March 2023 | |
| Monarchs | Abdullah (2023–2024) Ibrahim (since 2024) |
| Prime Minister | Anwar Ibrahim |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Cameron Highlands | |
| In office 9 May 2018 – 30 November 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Palanivel Govindasamy (BN–MIC) |
| Succeeded by | Ramli Mohd Nor (BN) |
| Majority | 597 (2018) |
| Youth Chief of the Malaysian Indian Congress | |
| In office 17 November 2013 – 21 October 2018 | |
| President | Subramaniam Sathasivam |
| Preceded by | Mohan Thangarasu |
| Succeeded by | Thinalan T Rajagopalu |
| Faction represented in the Dewan Negara | |
| 2023, 2024– | Barisan Nasional |
| 2023–2024 | Independent |
| Faction represented in the Dewan Rakyat | |
| 2018 | Barisan Nasional |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sivarraajh s/o Chandran 16 September 1976 Lumut, Perak, Malaysia |
| Citizenship | Malaysian |
| Political party | Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) (until 2023, since 2024) Independent (2023–2024) |
| Other political affiliations | Barisan Nasional (BN) (until 2023, since 2024) |
| Alma mater | University of Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia |
| Occupation | Politician |
Education and personal life
editBorn on 16 September 1976 in Lumut, Perak and later spent his schooling years in Sekolah Menengah Anderson, Ipoh, Perak. Sivaraajh graduated with a Bachelor's (Hons) in Economics from the University of Malaya.[1] His expertise and interest in the field of economics lead to him to be a successful entrepreneur. Being brought up in a mediocre family, he understood the difficult lifestyle in managing daily needs of a family. His father Chandran Nagalingam was a general worker in Telekom Malaysia (TM) while his mother Chandra Kaniappan a housewife. He has two siblings named Sri Ganesh and Khayathry. Sivarrajh is married to Malathi Annamalai from Segamat, Johor and the couple has three children named Vassanthraaj, Sivashni and Tivhashinee. They were dating while both were studying at Universiti Malaya.[citation needed]
Political career
editSivarraajh political involvement begun in 2004 as member of MIC. He was later appointed as MIC Youth Secretary from 2008 to 2013.[2]
In 2013 general election, Sivarraajh was fielded as a candidate for the Buntong state assembly seat in Perak, but lost to a DAP candidate Sivasubramaniam A/L Athinarayanan.[3][4]
Following, he was appointed as Youth Chief of the MIC and Vice-Chief of BN Youth Wing from 2013 to 2018.[5] In 2011, he became a member of the advisory panel of the Special Affairs Department (JASA), which was the previous Malaysian BN government's propaganda unit, helping the Director-General of the organisation in formulating political strategies, especially those pertaining to Malaysian Indians and then appointed as a special officer to the former Perak Menteri Besar.[6]
In early 2017, Sivarraajh was appointed as BN's Cameron Highlands Parliamentary Constituency Coordinator. Functional through a locally set up Parliamentary Community Service Centre (Pusat Khidmat Masyarakat Parlimen), Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, its role includes to map needs of the community within the constituency for strategic resource allocation.[7][8]
Sivarraajh contested and won the 2018 general election to become Member of Parliament for Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat in Pahang. But his victory was nullified by the Election Court as he was found guilty of bribing the Orang Asli voters.[9]
On 27 June 2023, Sivarrajh announced his resignation as Taman Bukit Kuchai Baru MIC Division Chief and from MIC with immediate effect. He revealed that few incidents, restrictions to discharge the duties as a Senator, certain members who demonised him and fears of division among MIC party members led him to the resignation.[10]
On 6 September 2024, he officially rejoins MIC as an ordinary member.[11]
MIC Youth Disaster Aid Centre (MYDAC)
editIn 2014, as the Chief of MIC Youth Wing Sivarraajh established MIC Youth Disaster Aid Centre (MYDAC) to enable organised assistance delivered during natural disasters to victims.[12]
Malaysian Indian Youth Consultative Council (MIYCC)
editIn 2014, he founded the Malaysian Indian Youth Consultative Council (MIYCC), which aims to foster entrepreneurship and economic skills among Indian youths, and currently serves as its advisor.[13] The council is held by esteemed icons of the Indian society in Malaysia such as Datuk Dr. Jeyaindran (Deputy Director General, Ministry of Health), Dato' Param (Former DCP, PDRM), Datuk Bhupat Rai (Board of Directors, International Bank India), En. Ravindran Devagunam (Director, PEMANDU), Professor Sivamurugan Pandian (USM), Dato’ CM Vignaesvaran (Chief Executive, PSMB), and five other individuals. Further, he also launched Action Plan for Malaysian Indian Youth under MIYCC in October 2016 inline with the initiatives takes by the Malaysian Prime Minister to draft plan for the Malaysian Indian Bluerprint.[14]
Controversy
editOn 30 November 2018, the Kuala Lumpur High Court, sitting as an election court, has nullified Sivarraajh's 2018 general election victory in Cameron Highlands, for the offence of vote-buying and corrupt practices committed to induce voters. DAP candidate M. Manogaran's election petition, had proven beyond reasonable doubt that money was given to voters during the campaign period.[15]
The Orang Asli leaders (Tok Batins) testified that BN candidates for the Cameron Highlands parliamentary and Jelai state seats gave a total of RM2,100 to six Tok Batins, in seeking their support few days before polling day. The Tok Batins also said they were given RM200 as “duit rokok” (cigarette money) during the 12-day campaign period. However, Sivarraajh denied the claims of vote buying, insisting that it was wrong under the law. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) also investigate into several corruption charges during his stint at Cameron Highlands.[16]
As Sivarraajh and MIC did not appeal for the court's decision; the seat was declared vacant and has set for the 2019 Cameron Highlands by-election on 26 January by Election Commission (EC).[17] He was ineligible to re-contest the by-election as he was banned from becoming a candidate or voter in any election for the next five years.[18] The High Court on 10 January 2019 dismissed Sivarraajh's bid to challenge EC decision over the five-year election ban.[19]
Election results
edit| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N30 Buntong | Sivarraajh Chandran (MIC) | 4,433 | 24.79% | Sivasubramaniam Athinarayanan (DAP) | 13,062 | 71.79% | 18,195 | 8,629 | 79.64% | ||
| Iruthiyam Sebastiar Anthonisamy (IND) | 261 | 1.46% | ||||||||||
| Mohd Basri Shafie (IND) | 127 | 0.71% | ||||||||||
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | P078 Cameron Highlands, Pahang | Sivarraajh Chandran (MIC)[note 1] | 10,307 | 42.30% | M. Manogaran (DAP) | 9,710 | 39.85% | 24,365 | 597 | 76.03% | ||
| Wan Mahadir Wan Mahmud (PAS) | 3,587 | 14.72% | ||||||||||
| Suresh Kumar Balasubramaniam (PSM) | 680 | 2.79% | ||||||||||
| Mohd Tahir Kassim (BERJASA) | 81 | 0.33% | ||||||||||
| 2022 | P017 Padang Serai, Kedah | Sivarraajh Chandran (MIC)[note 2] | 2,983 | 3.26% | Azman Nasrudin (BERSATU) | 51,637 | 56.49% | 91,416 | 16,260 | 68.95% | ||
| Mohamad Sofee Razak (PKR) | 35,377 | 38.70% | ||||||||||
| Sreanandha Rao (Independent) | 846 | 0.93% | ||||||||||
| Hamzah Abd Rahman (PEJUANG) | 424 | 0.46% | ||||||||||
| Mohd Bakhri Hashim (WARISAN)[note 3] | 149 | 0.16% | ||||||||||
Honours
editHonour of Malaysia
edit
Pahang :
Knight Companion of Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – Dato' (2016)[26]
Notes
edit- ^ The Election Court has on 30 November 2018, nullified Sivarraajh's election for the element of corrupted practices which had triggered the 2019 Cameron Highlands by-election.
- ^ Withdrew after the Nomination Day in favor of PH candidate.
- ^ Withdrew after the Nomination Day.
References
edit- ^ Sivarraajh goes for Youth top post The Star Online, Kuala Lumpur, 6 November 2013
- ^ Sivarraajh reinstated as MIC Youth secretary, MalaysiaKini, Kuala Lumpur,31 Januari 2012
- ^ MIC Youth demands for more seats in GE14, The Malaysian Times, Kuala Lumpur 15 October 2016
- ^ Showdown looming in MIC Youth, The Star Online, Kuala Lumpur, 7 November 2013
- ^ Sivarraajh is new MIC Youth chief, TheSunDaily, Kuala Lumpur, 17 November 2013
- ^ Sivarraajh and Mugilan likely to vie for MIC Youth chief post, The Star Online, Petaling Jaya 5 September 2013
- ^ Umno terima Sivarraajh di Cameron Highlands, Sinaran Harian, 6 Oktober 2017
- ^ Tenaga buruh Cameron Highlands berkurangan - Sivarraajh, Utusan Online, 23 Januari 2018
- ^ Hamdan, Nurbaiti (30 November 2018). "Court nullifies BN's GE14 victory for Cameron Highlands seat (Updated)". The Star Online. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "Former MIC Youth chief Sivarraajh quits party". The Star. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Sivaraj returns to MIC as an ordinary member". 6 September 2024.
- ^ MIC Youth launches MyDAC to help out flood victims, The Sun Daily, Kuala Lumpur, 30 December 2014
- ^ MIC Youth to send special report on Indians to PM’s Office, The Rakyat Post, Kuala Lumpur, 16 Jan 2014
- ^ MIYCC Rangka Pelan Tindakan Pembangunan Belia India Malaysia 2016-2018, Bernama, Kuala Lumpur, 10 Februari 2016
- ^ Ramasamy, Manirajan (30 November 2018). "Election Court nullifies BN's victory in Cameron Highlands". New Straits Times. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- ^ Ho, Kit Yen (30 November 2018). "Court nullifies MIC's election win in Cameron Highlands". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- ^ Joseph Kaos Jr (19 December 2018). "Cameron Highlands parliamentary by-election set for Jan 26". The Star Online. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- ^ Allison Lai (28 December 2018). "EC bans MIC's Sivarrajh for five years, cannot run in Cameron polls". The Star Online. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- ^ Hafiz Yatim (10 January 2019). "High Court dismisses Sivarraajh's bid to challenge five-year election ban". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
- ^ "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 5 May 2013. Results only available for the 2013 election.
- ^ "my undi : Kawasan & Calon-Calon PRU13 : Keputusan PRU13 (Archived copy)". www.myundi.com.my. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
- ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13". Utusan Malaysia. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^ "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- ^ "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- ^ Punithan Paramsiven (6 November 2016). "Congratulations Chief Dato' Sivarraajh Chandran, National MIC Youth Leader". Facebook. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
