Tun Ar. S. Samy Vellu passed away on 15 September 2022 at the age of 86.Born on 8 March 1936, he was the Sungai Siput MP from 1974 to 2008 and served as Works Minister from 1980 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.
As a long-serving Minister of Works and an architect by training, his life and career was undoubtedly intertwined with PAM’s history.In this special feature AM shares tributes and personal recollections from two PAM Past Presidents.
— DK, Editor-in-Chief
I was first introduced to Tun Ar Samy Vellu (LAM A/S 1) during my extracurricular activities with Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) and Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM) in the early 1980s.He was a Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Works (1980–1989 and 1995–2008) and was directly responsible for the interpretation and application of the Architects Act 1967 (Act 117), among other responsibilities.
As PAM President and Board Member of LAM, I had the ‘pleasure and pressure’ of dealing with him.Being a politician, he spoke with an ‘air of authority’ yet was willing to listen to other arguments presented in the better interests of the professions, especially in Architecture and the intense physical development that was happening within the relatively young and energetic country of Malaysia.
With the wisdom and support of some senior architect practitioners and Past PAM Presidents, we at PAM benefited through the moral and professional support of Dato Seri Samy Vellu especially while he was in office.We found him to be firm in his opinions, accommodating in his considerations, humorous in his dispositions and magnanimous in his personality.All these were evident during our official and casual meetings especially when travelling together in official delegations and professional events, as seen in some enclosed photographs.
Looking back, Samy Vellu has contributed much to our national development and has inspired human resource development and motivation, especially among professionals and those involved with him.He was a ‘topical’ and many people recall various anecdotes relating to his sense of humour and styles in making ‘proclamations’ in different languages and slang that only true multi-ethnic Malaysians can appreciate.
Notwithstanding his ‘eccentricity’ Tun Ar Samy Vellu as a public officer and Minister of Works in the Malaysian Government has served the public and nation in his most ‘demonstrative’ and effective manners.He was a unique Malaysian personality and is now a Legend.
May his soul rest in peace.
— Dato’ Ar Hajeedar Abdul Majid PAM President 1985″1987 7 October 2022
Notwithstanding his ‘eccentricity’ Tun Ar Samy Vellu as a public officer and Minister of Works in the Malaysian Government has served the public and nation in his most ‘demonstrative’ and effective manners.He was a unique Malaysian personality and is now a Legend.
May his soul rest in peace.
— Dato’ Ar Hajeedar Abdul Majid PAM President 1985″1987 7 October 2022
Tun Ar. S Samy Vellu was a friend and a strong supporter of PAM.He was the longest serving Malaysian Minister of Works from 1980–89 and 1995–2008.
I have been acquainted with Datuk Seri since my early days in PAM Council and as a member of the Board of Architects since 2003.All these years I have found him to be an energetic leader with a heart for this nation.And he could get things done.
However not many knew that he started as a draughtsman with Architect Boutcher & Co. in the 1950s and later sat for a RIBA exam for mature-age students to become an architect.A friend Tan Gei Poh was his colleague and recalls he was a very good draughtsman, was very friendly and a self-made man.The late Dato’ Kington Loo mentioned that he had sponsored Samy Vellu to continue his studies in architecture so that he would come back and help build the country.In that sense he did so and very much more during Malaysia’s golden age of progress to become one of the booming Asian tigers.
I got to know him well during the later part of his second stint as Minister of Works.He was then Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu.I was the President of PAM and self-certification by professionals and the Certificate of Completion and Compliance was in the works ready for nationwide implementation.However an issue was raised in Parliament as to the independence of the Architect to certify as he was under the paid service of the developer.In our ensuing meetings with the Minister the concept of LAM acting as stakeholder for the architect’s fees was introduced to overcome this perception of conflict by taking the fee payment out of the equation.PAM then developed the concept and presented it to the building industry, professional bodies, REHDA and consumer protection groups including the House Buyers Association (HBA).This was an acceptable solution to everyone.
Datuk Seri took this back to the next parliament sitting on the 12th December 2006 where the matter was debated and settled.The Minister stood up for architects that day and his response taken from the Hansard is worthy of our respect.
“Tuan Yang Di-Pertua, untuk makluman Yang Berhormat bagi Ketereh, fee arkitek adalah berdasarkan satu skala yang telah ditawarkan oleh kerajaan, diwartakan oleh kerajaan.
Saya ingin membawa ke perhatian Ahli-Ahli Yang Berhormat, bahawa ramai pelanggan tidak membayar yuran arkitek, tetapi memerlukan perkhidmatan arkitek seratus peratus. Masalah ini telah sekian lama ditanggung oleh para arkitek dan kementerian saya telah membuat keputusan untuk mewujudkan satu sistem di mana sebuah agensi di bawah Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia untuk mengutip bayaran bagi pihak arkitek profesional serta membuat bayaran kepada mereka berdasarkan perkhidmatan yang diberi.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Yang Berhormat bagi Seputeh, telah membangkitkan isu sama ada terdapat apa-apa konflik kepentingan oleh seorang arkitek atau jurutera yang mengemukakan pelan-pelan pada masa yang sama mengeluarkan perakuan siap dan pematuhan. Bagi menjawab soalan Yang Berhormat bagi Seputeh, saya berpendapat bahawa tidak terdapat apa-apa conflict of interest dalam kepentingan, dalam perkara ini kerana seorang arkitek mereka bentuk bangunan dan sebagai seorang profesional, beliau juga mengetahui segala selok-belok mengenai bangunan tersebut, di samping itu, beliau juga menyelia secara berkala pembinaan bangunan dan bertanggungjawab mengawasi pendirian bangunan itu, bagi memastikan bahawa pembinaan itu mematuhi undang-undang serta selamat dan layak diduduki.
Sebagai seorang profesional arkitek, dan jurutera hendaklah sentiasa bertindak secara profesional and berpendirian bebas tanpa mengira sumber pambayaran fee tersebut. Mereka juga dikehendaki mematuhi kod etika yang ditetapkan dibawah Kaedah-kaedah Architect 1986” (Hansard DR 12.12.2006, Pg.28)
Another event with Datuk Seri involved the inclusion of Interiors Designers under the Architects Act.He called me and asked when I would be free to meet at his office in JKR.I went that afternoon.Upon arrival I was ushered into his room for a private discussion.The proposed amendment to the Architects Act with the inclusion of Interior Designers was on his desk.He asked me what I thought of it.Later in the discussion he said putting aside his Minister’s hat and putting on his Architect’s hat … he was concerned.How would we differentiate a decorator, contractor or a carpenter who also does designs; what would happen to those who undertake design and build, can an auntie still decorate her own home and apartment and choose her own furnishings?He was worried that it would be difficult to regulate and will put a lot of work on the Board.He was also concerned that it might “water down” the profession.He asked if we would re-consider.I made a quick phone call to the president of IPDM and he in turn called several others who had worked on the Act.In the end I reverted to Datuk Seri that the interior designers wanted it.He sat back and took a deep breath and said – so shall it be.He signed the approval and the rest is history.That day I saw that Datuk Seri was still an architect true and true, and he was always looking out for his profession.
In 2006 Datuk Seri graciously officiated the launch of the first PAM Convention with ARCHIDEX and DATUM at the newly-opened Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for PAM and CIS Network Sdn. Bhd.
Datuk Seri lost his seat in the 2008 political tsunami.That also ended his term as Minister of Works.As Datuk Seri was the first Minister of Works that I had a close working relationship and friendship with, he had set a pretty high standard for others to emulate.Whilst many will remember him for his political exploits and media savviness and not to mention his many quotable quotes that can leave you baffled or laughing to tears.To me he was an Architect, friendly, affable and who made it to be a Minister to get things done for the nation.
RIP Tun Ar. S Samy Vellu and Thank You for your service.
— Ar Dr Tan Loke Mun
PAM President 2005″07, LAM Board Member 2003-current
