MAKKAL Sakti president Datuk Seri R. S. Thanenthiran has proposed that the North-South Expressway renamed as Tun Samy Vellu Expressway to recognise the late former MIC president’s contributions to nation-building.
Thanenthiran, who was speaking to reporters after paying his respects at Tun Dr S. Samy Vellu’s residence today (Sept 16), said it is their hope that the suggestion will be taken into consideration.
“Samy is a legend that will never be forgotten. I hope the government will announce the renaming of the highway as a show of gratitude for his contributions to the country,” he was reported as saying by The Vibes.
Describing Samy as Malaysia’s “father of infrastructure”, Thanenthiran said the “legendary national icon” should be remembered for his good deeds that have continued to benefit the community.
The North-South Expressway, Damansara-Puchong Expressway, Federal Highway, Sg Besi Highway, and East Coast Highway Phase 1 were some of the developments that took place during his time as works minister.
Earlier, Samy Vellu’s former press secretary Datuk E. Sivabalan suggested that the Government rename Jalan Raja Laut or Jalan Ipoh to Jalan Tun Dr S. Samy Vellu as a tribute to his role in developing Malaysia’s infrastructure.
According to Sivabalan – who served as Samy Vellu’s press secretary between 2002 and 2008 and as his senior private secretary from 2010 to 2018 – MIC suggested that the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University in Kedah be renamed as Universiti Tun Samy Vellu.
“The university is managed by Maju Institute of Educational Development or MIED, which is MIC’s education wing, and a brainchild of Samy Vellu’s,” he said in a statement.
Samy Vellu passed away yesterday morning in his residence; he was 86.
Samy Vellu was the Sungai Siput MP from 1974 to 2008 and served as works minister from 1979 to 1989.
He was the energy, telecommunications and posts minister from 1989 to 1995 before taking over the works ministry once again from 1995 to 2008.
He was the longest-serving MIC president after holding the position for 31 years from 1979. Samy Vellu served under three prime ministers during his time in the Cabinet – Hussein Onn, Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
He was also one of the longest-serving ministers, having been in the Cabinet for 29 years. – Sept 16, 2022
Main photo credit: Road Traffic Technology
