V. T. Sambanthan

Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun V.T. Sambanthan SSM PMN
திருஞானசம்பந்தன்
Prime Minister of Malaysia Acting
Covering duties 3 August 1973 – 13 August 1973
Monarch	Abdul Halim
Prime Minister	Abdul Razak Hussein
Minister of National Unity
In office 1 January 1972 – 1974
Monarch	Abdul Halim
Prime Minister	Abdul Razak Hussein
Constituency	Sungai Siput
Minister of Works, Posts and Telecommunications
In office 1 September 1957 – 31 December 1971
Monarchs	Abdul Rahman Hisamuddin Putra Ismail Nasiruddin Abdul Halim
Prime Minister	Tunku Abdul Rahman Abdul Razak Hussein
Preceded by	Sardon Jubir
Succeeded by	Abdul Ghani Gilong
Constituency	Sungai Siput
Minister of Labour
In office 1955–1957
Prime Minister	Tunku Abdul Rahman
Preceded by	Inaugural holder
Succeeded by	Omar Yoke Lin Ong (Labour and Social Welfare)
Constituency	Sungai Siput
5th President of the Malaysian Indian Congress
In office May 1955 – 30 June 1973
Preceded by	K. L. Devaser
Succeeded by	V. Manickavasagam
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Sungai Siput
In office 27 July 1955 – 30 June 1973
Preceded by	Constituency created
Succeeded by	Samy Vellu
Personal details
Born	Thirunyanasambanthan s/o Veerasamy (1919-06-16)16 June 1919 Sungai Siput, Perak, Federated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died	18 May 1979(1979-05-18) (aged 59) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Political party	Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)
Spouse	Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan
Children	Deva Kunjari
Alma mater	Annamalai University
Occupation	Politician

Tun Thirunyanasambanthan s/o Veerasamy (Tamil: திருஞானசம்பந்தன், romanized: Tiruñāṉacampantaṉ; 16 June 1919 – 18 May 1979) also known as V.T. Sambanthan, was a Malayan and Malaysian politician who served as Minister of National Unity from January 1972 to 1974, Minister of Works, Posts and Telecommunications from April 1956 to December 1971, Minister of Health from 1957 to 1959, Minister of Labour from 1955 to 1957, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sungai Siput from July 1955 to June 1973, acting Prime Minister on 3 August 1973 for only 10 days and 5th President of the Malayan Indian Congress and later Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) from May 1955 to his removal from the party presidency in June 1973 by the party members. He is widely known as one of the founding fathers of Malaysia representing one of the three main ethnicities, people of Indian origin along with Tunku Abdul Rahman representing Malay ethnicity and Tan Cheng Lock representing the Chinese ethnicity.

Sambanthan was one of the leading Indian leaders who played a prominent role in the independence movement in Malaya. As president of the MIC during this important period of transition, he worked closely with Alliance Party leader Tunku Abdul Rahman and they developed a close personal bond.

He is credited with three important developments in Malaysian political history: the consolidation of the Malayan (now Malaysian) Indian Congress, its transformation into a mass-based party, and its integral role as a partner in the current ruling alliance.

The entry of the MIC into the multi-communal Alliance in 1955 contributed greatly to enhancing the coalition's image as the main representative of the three main communities in Malaya.

Te finest hour was achieved on 31 August 1957 when Independence was achieved under the Merdeka Agreement, to which Sambanthan was a signatory.