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Pathmanaban Selvadurai

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In this Indian name, the name Pathmanaban is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Selvadurai.

Pathmanaban Selvadurai (9 June 1933 – 18 July 2024), also known as P. Selvadurai, was a Singaporean former politician and lawyer. A former member of the People's Action Party (PAP), he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing Bukit Panjang Single Member Constituency from 1967 to 1972 and the MP representing Kuo Chuan Constituency from 1972 to 1984. Selvadurai died on 18 July 2024 at 92.[1]

Pathmanaban Selvadurai
Selvadurai in 1968
Member of Parliament representing Bukit Panjang Single Member Constituency
In office
1967 – 16 August 1972
Preceded byOng Lian Teng
Succeeded byLee Yiok Seng
Member of Parliament representing Kuo Chuan Constituency
In office
12 October 1972 – 4 December 1984
Preceded byconstituency established
Succeeded byWong Kan Seng
Personal details
Born9 June 1933
Straits Settlements (present-day Singapore)
Died18 July 2024 (age 92)
Singapore
SpouseVimala

Early life and education

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Selvadurai was born in the Straits Settlements (present-day Singapore) on 9 June 1933 to Ceylon Tamils. He studied at Monk's Hill Primary School and Raffles Institution.[2] He also went to London University College and Middle Temple where he became a barrister-at-law. Before joining politics, he was a member of the governing board of NTUC's Research Unit and a referee of the Industrial Arbitration Court.[3]

Career

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Political career

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Selvadurai made his political debut at the 1967 by-elections, where he contested for Member of Parliament (MP) representing Bukit Panjang Single Member Constituency (SMC), being elected unopposed.[4][3] At the 1968 general election, he contested for MP representing Bukit Panjang SMC again, being elected unopposed again.[5] That same year, Selvadurai was a part of a 4-member team that went to North Korea.[6] In 1969, he opened Chestnut Drive Secondary School (now Greenridge Secondary School).[7]

In the 1972 general election, Selvadurai contested for MP of Kuo Chuan Constituency instead of Bukit Panjang SMC as then-new candidate Lee Yiok Seng was believed by the PAP to "muster support of the Chinese and Malays" due to his multilingualism.[8] Selvadurai went against P. Manokaran of Barisan Sosialis (BS) and was elected with 73.69% of the vote.[9] In 1974, Selvadurai and Chiang Hai Ding presented a private bill, the Roman Catholic Archbishop Bill, which was passed the following year.[10][11]

In the 1976 general election, he contested for MP of Kuo Chuan Constituency again, against Ng Ah Chue of BS, and was elected with 74.42% of the vote.[12] The following election, he contested for MP of Kuo Chuan Constituency again, against Sim Chit Giak of BS, and was elected with 75.92% of the vote.[13] He announced his retirement from politics in 1984.[14]

Law career

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In 2008, Selvadurai joined Tan Rajah & Cheah as a consultant. He had previously served at Rodyk & Davidson as a partner and later consultant for over 40 years.[15] He also served as a member of the Singapore National Eye Centre, the Singapore Arts School, and as president of the Indian Fine Arts Society.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Obituary: P Selvadurai, the London-educated lawyer who kept the peace in Bukit Panjang". Petir SG. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  2. ^ Thangarajuh, Ghalpana (10 September 2002). "SELVADURAI, Pathmanaban – Oral History Interviews". National Archives of Singapore. p. 1. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b "4 walkovers for PAP". The Straits Times. 25 February 1967. p. 5. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ^ "Only one by-election fight". Eastern Sun. 25 February 1967. p. 11. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ^ Yeo, Joseph (13 April 1968). "POLLING TODAY IN SINGAPORE". The Straits Times. p. 8. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ "S'pore team back from North Korea". The Straits Times. 22 September 1968. p. 12. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ "MP opens 105th Govt school". The Straits Times. 13 June 1969. p. 4. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ "THE CONSTITUENCIES". New Nation. 26 August 1972. p. 4. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  9. ^ "Election scoreboard". The Straits Times. 2 September 1972. p. 4. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  10. ^ "12 new Bills to be tabled today". The Straits Times. 11 November 1975. p. 9. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  11. ^ Chia, Sue-Ann (11 March 2010). "Know the past to tackle the future". The Straits Times. pp. B14.
  12. ^ "ELECTION WHO-FIGHTS-WHOM..." The Straits Times. 14 December 1976. p. 8. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ "WHO FIGHTS WHOM AND WHERE ..." The Straits Times. 14 December 1980. p. 8. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  14. ^ "Selvadurai steps down". Singapore Monitor. 27 August 1984. p. 4. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  15. ^ "Pathmanaban Selvadurai". Tan Rajah & Cheah. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  16. ^ Kanthasamy, Abbi (22 July 2024). "Life and legacy of Pathmanaban Selvadurai". thesun.my. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
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