V. David: Unionist, politician and freedom fighter
- From: pluto <pluto@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 12:11:42 +0800
http://colour-blind.org/wordpress/?p=680
V. David: Unionist, politician and freedom fighter
||||Today 01:11 AM|admin
Let?s pay tribute to V David on 10 June. I suggest we go to the Cheras
Christian cemetry where he was buried. My friend Bala will certainly volunteer
to be the organiser for the annual event.
V. David, the man who made ?May Day? possible
Posted by Raja Petra
Thursday, 01 May 2008
V. David is a Malaysian trade unionist who was fearless and vocal in raising
issues concerning the Indian community in Malaysia. In 1958, he was arrested
under the Emergency Ordinance and detained under the Internal Security Act in
1964, 1969 (after May 13 racial riots) and 1987.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Many Malaysians probably take the 1st May holiday for granted. It is a day to
stay home or for going out with the family. Or maybe it is a day to sleep in
late.
Whatever today may mean to you, did you know that Malaysia did not always
celebrate May Day or declare 1st May a holiday? This was because Malaysia was
still at ?war? with the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) and anything ?labour? or
?socialist? was regarded as ?communist?. Malays were led to believe that
anything ?left wing? is ?budaya kominis? and therefore an imported ideology from
Mainland China and Russia, the two superpowers of those days that were
sympathetic to the CPM cause. And Malays believed that communism is opposed to
Islamic teachings.
Malays have of course come a long way since then, though they still have a
longer way to go, and the perception of May Day is no longer one of an
un-Islamic holiday associated with communism. But many probably do not know that
getting Malaysia to endorse May Day as a workers? holiday, and not a communist
holiday, plus getting 1st May gazetted as a holiday, has to be credited to the
renowned workers? hero, V. David, who fought for many long years to get the
Malaysian government to change its stand.
This is what Wikipedia has to say about V. David:
David V. (born 26 August 1932 - died 10 July 2005) is a Malaysian trade unionist
and former opposition politician. He won a seat in the Malaysian parliament
twice, representing the constituencies of Bangsar and Damansara. While in
parliament, he was known to be fearless and vocal in raising issues concerning
the Indian community in Malaysia.
David was a founding member and secretary of Selangor Factories Association,
which he started in 1953. He was elected a Kuala Lumpur town councillor and
became Transport Union secretary in 1958. In 1959, he was elected the Member of
Parliament for Bangsar. In 1978, David defeated the Malaysian Indian Congress
strongman, Deputy Minister S. Subramaniam, and became the Damansara Member of
Parliament.
David was arrested under the Emergency Ordinance in 1958. He was also arrested
under the Internal Security Act in 1964, 1969 (after May 13 racial riots) and
1987. In 1984, he became the Chairman of World Tamil Association.
To help you get a better insight into this unsung and forgotten hero called V.
David, I would like to reproduced a 7 March 2004 article from the New Straits
Times:
YBs (Yang Berharap) gearing up for the big day
By Ahmad A. Talib
The New Straits Times
Many years ago, when well-known labour leader V. David stood as a candidate in
the general election, I would meet him and wish him luck. With his balding pate
and the trademark thick spectacles and midriff, David would pace up and down the
main hall of the Transport Workers Union and bark instructions to his
supporters.
?Hurry up, we must get the manifesto distributed first thing in the morning. I
don?t have the whole day, you know!?
In 1978, David contested as a DAP candidate and won the Damansara parliamentary
seat defeating the Barisan Nasional?s Datuk S. Subramaniam, much to the delight
of his party and supporters. As a fulltime trade unionist, David was a popular
figure. It was difficult not to notice his bulk as he went from one meeting to
another to get the best possible deal for his TWU members. With David at the
helm of the union and Datuk Zainal Rampak as his running mate in the movement,
members were generally happy with their collective agreements.
I would often drop in at the bilik gerakan of candidates I knew just to wish
them good luck, and David was one of them. It was quite common to have the bilik
gerakan manned by tough looking men or youths. I understand this was necessary
as part of the security measures.
So, I was naturally quizzed by these toughies when I walked in to see David. In
the elections of the `70s and part of the `80s, fistfights were not uncommon,
forcing candidates to opt for their own security arrangement.
David?s helpers were mostly Indians and they eyed me suspiciously as I looked
around the hall trying to locate him. They must have been wondering why this
young non-union like, skinny fellow wanted to see David. Is this fellow from the
Special Branch? Or worse still, from the other political party trying to cause
trouble! As they later found out, I was none of the above - just a reporter on
his rounds to seek out bits and pieces for some political commentaries and news
reports.
Well, that?s that. The election is here again. March 21 has been set as polling
day and March 13 fixed for nomination. These are days when every single member
of any political party and every political leader waits for. This is D-Day!
Every day in the last few months has been geared for the day when the ballot
boxes are taken out, dusted and put to use again. All the homework they have
done, the strategy they have formed, the plans and counter plans - they are
being put to the big test.
The candidates and their supporters work just as hard to ensure victory. The
adrenalin never stops pumping between the time when Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi announced to his colleagues and the nation that the Dewan Rakyat would be
dissolved to pave the way for the 11th general election. In any general
election, the Prime Minister calls the shot, and Pak Lah just did, setting in
motion a series of events that will climax on March 21.
On another occasion I recall the formation of a new political party, Nasma,
which seemingly had the support of social activists, some intellectuals and
leaders from non-governmental organisations. Nasma?s introduction to the media
was held at one of the city?s leading hotels. What attracted much attention then
was the party had a woman as president, Zainab Yang, who was then more known as
the `Lorry Woman? because she was head of the Pan Malaysian Lorry Operators?
Association.
There was considerable attraction to the formation of Nasma. Its proponents had
high hopes but this was not backed by real political acumen and, within a few
years, Nasma receded into the political wilderness, never to engage in serious
battles after a brief and disastrous encounter on the Malaysian scene. The
simple lesson for Nasma and other like-minded proponents - don?t go into
politics if you are short on resources. Politics is not a romantic journey,
neither is it a trip to test one?s grandiose plans and vague images of undying
loyalty and worship.
Bob, an American acquaintance, asked me a few days ago how the campaign was
going to be like now that the polling date had been set. ?What campaign?? I
asked. He looked puzzled. ?Bob, in places like Kelantan the campaign has never
stopped. It?s like a football match - the players never take off their jerseys,
and that being so, treat everyday as match day!?
House calls are known to be more personal and popular these days, partly because
political rallies, in the traditional sense of the word, is a thing of the past.
Which is not necessarily a bad thing, this stopping of political rallies. As a
schoolboy in 1969, I saw political rallies being turned into a stage for racial
name-calling and bad-mouthing with bloody consequences. It is best forgotten,
really?
Personal schedules, family gatherings and even business decisions have been put
on the back-burner in these couple of weeks. It?s politics, morning, day and
night. At the Tanglin nasi lemak stall behind the National Mosque, customers
were discussing who would be dropped, and whether new Menteris Besar would
emerge from some States. Isa, in between sips of teh tarik, gave his theory why
Pak Lah, and the BN, would win handsomely, echoed by his friend Shah, a
pensioner.
Well, we?ll soon know. In the meantime, make sure you know where you are voting.
Every vote counts, your candidate will tell you. All the best YBs. That?s Yang
Berharap, mind you, not Yang Berhormat?
CHAMPION FOR THE DOWNTRODDEN
From village hero, V David rose to become a pillar of the Malaysian workers?movement by K George
Aliran Monthly Vol 25 (2005): Issue 6
All his life he committed himself to the struggle for workers? rights, social
justice, freedom and democracy.
K George
Born on 26 August 1932 in a squatter settlement at the 3rd mile, Klang Road,
Kuala Lumpur, V David started his life in abject poverty. His father, S
Vethamuthu, had a small farm and a herd of cattle for survival. As he grew
older, David had to help his father by going to houses around the area
delivering milk daily. Despite this, he managed to complete his Senior
Cambridge. As the years rolled by, his mother became a widow, burdened with the
task of bringing up her only son.
Under the circumstances, it was only natural that mother and son became
inseparably close. Even after his mother?s demise, she remained close to his
heart until the last day of his life. It is no exaggeration to say that David
used to visit his mother?s grave very often ? not only every year on the
occasion of her birthday, death anniversary, etc but whenever he stood for
election, started a union, contested for leadership position and even before
embarking on other important event. To him, she was a saint whose blessing he
sought before undertaking any venture.
In 1954, he enrolled with the University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA for a
course in Economics, Political Science and Industrial Relations. At the same
time, he also attended a course on Labour Unions organised by the AFL-CIO, the
American National Trade Union Centre. Even when he was deeply involved in trade
union and political activities, he continued his tertiary education. In 1980, he
obtained a Masters in Commerce degree from the University of New Delhi. A few
years later his thesis on international relations was accepted by Pacific
Western University, California, USA, which awarded him a doctorate.
Compassion for the downtrodden
Even when David was in his teens, he was a hero in his village. The villagers
often sought his advice and guidance. David?s compassion for the poor and
downtrodden was natural, simply because of the condition in which he grew up.
His first venture in 1953 was to form a trade union known as the Selangor Mill
Workers Union (SMWU), which integrated with the Selangor Factory Workers Union.
In 1955, the union?s name was changed to the National Union of Factory and
General Workers (NUFGW). It was one of the ?General Unions? that was recognised
by the British colonial rulers.
On 31 August 1957, Malaya became independent. The NUFGW became so strong and
popular under the leadership of the youthful V David that even the workers in
the plantation industry preferred to be members of the new union. The Alliance
government of independent Malaya detained David and amended the labour law to
ensure the automatic deregistration of all existing general unions at that time.
Since then, our ?democratic? government has never granted registration of
general unions! David was subsequently released.
He became even more popular - loved by the working masses and disliked by the
capitalists. Soon, he was approached by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) to be
its executive secretary. He travelled by truck and enrolled thousands and
thousands of workers in the transport industry. Soon he was elected the General
Secretary of the TWU and held on to that position unchallenged even after he had
suffered two strokes.
Youngest MP at 26
In the 1959 General Election, David, already a member of the Labour Party, which
formed a coalition with other opposition parties known as the Socialist Front,
contested and won, becoming a Member of Parliament for Bangsar as well as
Selangor State Assembly member. At 26, he was the youngest Member of Parliament
? bold, vigorous and committed.
By mid 1960s, the registration of the Labour Party was cancelled. Its leaders
like Dr Tan Chee Khoon, Veerappan, Tan Pock Kin, David and others decided to
seek the registration of another party. I was then the General Secretary of the
Federation of Armed Forces Civilian Staff Union as well as Vice-President of the
MTUC and of CUEPACS. Like David, I too believed that trade unions had to involve
themselves in politics. It was not an unusual phenomenon but a fact that was
visible all over the world.
I was invited by the group to join and help with the formation of Gerakan. It
was during this period that I grew closer to David. I am proud to claim that
both of us knew what poverty was and that our commitment to struggle for the
welfare of workers became a passion. David stood on a Gerakan ticket in the
General Elections in 1969 and was elected to Parliament as MP for Datuk Keramat
in Penang. However, being a civil servant and father of three young children, I
decided to carry on with my job and union activity.
Gerakan became a very popular party and received multiracial support. In the May
1969 General Election, the party captured the state of Penang and formed the
government with Dr Lim Chong Eu as Chief Minister. But within two years, it was
embroiled in a leadership crisis, resulting in Dr Lim taking full control of
Gerakan. Professor Alatas, Dr Tan Chee Khoon, David and other leaders left
Gerakan and formed Pekemas, which contested in the 1974 General Election. Out of
over 90 candidates, only Dr Tan Chee Khoon retained his seat as the MP for
Kepong constituency. Pekemas did not last long. Subsequently, David joined the
DAP.
He was elected to parliament on the DAP ticket in 1978 for Damansara and was
successfully returned in 1986 and 1990 for Puchong. But in 1995, David did not
contest because of health reasons.
Indomitable spirit
While holding the post of TWU General Secretary, he represented the union in the
Executive Council and the Working Committee of the MTUC. He was elected as one
of its Vice-Presidents in 1971 - a position he held until 1976. Two years later,
he was elected the Secretary General of the MTUC. In 1979, he was elected to the
governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). He held on to
this prestigious position and the post of Secretary General of the MTUC until
1992.
Apart from the above positions, he was also a Council Member of the
International Transport Federation and President of the World Tamil Federation
for some time.
David became the ?guest? of the government for the fourth time in October 1987
along with 105 others - innocent victims of Operation Lalang under the obnoxious
Internal Security Act. This time he had to spend 222 days in the Kamunting
Detention Camp. It could not break his indomitable spirit which remained intact.
All his life he committed himself to the struggle for workers? rights, social
justice, freedom and democracy. He had been a persistent critic of the
government?s capitalistic policies and its unjust refusal to grant citizenship
to the Indian plantation workers who were born in this country in spite of their
pioneering economic contribution to this nation.
In his final three years, he became bed-ridden. His wife, Grace Sivapakiam, took
special care of her husband until the last day on July 10, 2005. Their only son,
Norman David 22, who is studying medicine in Bangalore, India, was present at
the time of his father?s demise.
V David will be remembered as a pillar of the Malaysian workers? movement for
many years to come. His memory will be cherished and recalled with fondness as
someone who had given his best for the workers and who had sacrificed the best
part of his life in the struggle to uplift the poor and the downtrodden.
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