K. S. Nallakarupan

Datuk K.S. Nallakarupan is an opposition politician. He was formerly a member of Parti Keadilan Rakyat before quitting over a disagreement with the party's "de facto" leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Background

Nalla, as his friends call him, is a former Malaysian Indian Congress deputy Youth chief

He is an accomplished speaker in the Tamil language and was close to MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu who made him deputy Youth leader in the early 1980s.

But their cosy relationship suffered because of disputes over financial matters and they never saw eye to eye again. In fact they became keen political foes. Nalla moved into the opposition camp in the MIC that was then led by the late Datuk K. Pathmanaban who was believed to have introduced him to Anwar. He and Anwar became buddies.

He was better known as Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s “tennis partner” at the time when the former deputy prime minister was making headlines after his 1998 sacking. At the time of his arrest in July 1998 for unlawful possession of 125 rounds of Fiocchi 6.35mm bullets, Nalla was a director of Magnum Corporation, Malaysian Plantations, Kamunting Corporation and Chongai Corporation.

“Don’t believe the rumours you have heard about us. Anwar played tennis with many people but I was the only unlucky partner who went to jail. I can forget my wedding anniversary but I can never forget July 31, 1998, the day I was arrested," he said in a newspaper interview in 2007. He adds that he has not picked up a tennis racquet since being arrested.

The charge was eventually amended and he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail, but was acquitted and released on appeal in August 1999. Nalla had remained in the background, showing little interest in politics.

PKR Involvement

Nalla was said to be roped in by Anwar to “inject new blood” into PKR, saying Nalla would head the Indian section and “lead” the Indian community. The speculation was rife since July 2006 and was highlighted by many newspapers in Malaysia, especially the Tamil language dailies.

He admitted that Anwar Ibrahim, who is PKR advisor, had asked him to join the party in 2004 but he had spent the last few years focusing on his business, travelling as well as making a pilgrimage to India.

However, Indian leaders in Keadilan who feel he would introduce MIC-style ethnic politics in a multi-racial environment like Keadilan opposed Nalla’s impending return to politics. The group said PKR was a multi-racial party without any racial sections and a separate leader for each section.

However, Nalla was eventually admitted into the party in August 2006 and was seen playing an important role in garnering Indian support for the party. Being a good Tamil orator, he was natural at the job.

With the next Malaysian general election speculated to be not too far off, Nalla with his financial clout was also thought to be an asset to Keadilan.

In April 2007, Nalla looked set to become a vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) after securing the second highest number of nominations for the post. However, he was advised to withdraw by Anwar due to unspecified reasons.

He withdrew from the party elections in protest and is currently not in speaking terms with his former best friend. He later quit the party and has since formed a new Indian-based Party MIUP,　backing the government coalition Barisan Nasional.

Other Involvements

Nallakarupan was also a member of the Tamil Writers Association and owned the now defunct Tamil daily Thina Murasu.

References

* [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/7/8/nation/14765660&sec=nation Nalla turns up, making waves] , The Star, July 8, 2006
* [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/1/nation/17300445&sec=nation Nalla to enter political fray] , The Star, April 1, 2007.