Sivanesan Achalingam

Summary

Sivanesan a/l Achalingam (born 15 March 1956) is a DAP assemblyman for Sungkai, Perak, who has held his seat continuously since March 2008 and has served as a Perak State EXCO member in three separate state administrations across different ruling coalitions. A Universiti Malaya graduate and lawyer with a background as a former Malaysian Trades Union Congress vice-president, he currently oversees Human Resources, Health, and Indian Community Affairs in the Perak state government. He is one of the most senior Indian-community representatives within the Perak DAP structure.

Biography

Sivanesan a/l Achalingam (born 15 March 1956) is a Malaysian politician and lawyer from Perak [1]. He has served as a Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Sungkai continuously since March 2008 [1]. He is a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition [1]. Prior to politics, Sivanesan had an extensive background in the labour movement: he served as secretary in several public and private sector unions, held the position of vice-president of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), and was a Cuepacs council member, before practising as a lawyer in industrial relations cases [2]. He is a graduate of Universiti Malaya [3]. Sivanesan has served as a Perak State Executive Council (EXCO) member across three separate administrations — under Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (Pakatan Rakyat, March 2008 to February 2009), under Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Pakatan Harapan, May 2018 to March 2020), and again from November 2022 under Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad in the current unity government [1]. Since November 2022, he holds the portfolio of Human Resources, Health, and Indian Community Affairs in the Perak state government [4]. Within the Perak DAP, he has served as vice-chairman of the state committee, including during the 2021–2024 term [4].

Known for

Sivanesan Achalingam is known as a multi-term Sungkai assemblyman who has served as a Perak EXCO member across three different state administrations spanning coalitions from Pakatan Rakyat to Pakatan Harapan to the current unity government [1]. He is one of the most senior Indian-community representatives within the Perak DAP, holding the portfolio covering Human Resources, Health, and Indian Community Affairs [4]. Before entering elected politics, he was a prominent figure in the Malaysian labour movement, having served as a vice-president of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress [2].

Political positions

On healthcare, Sivanesan has taken an active role as Perak's EXCO member for health, including visiting Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) in 2022 following reports of overcrowding in its emergency unit and coordinating with both state and federal levels to secure additional funding for hospital upgrades [5]. On labour relations, he has stated that since joining the state government he maintains a position of neutrality in labour disputes, while pointing to his prior decades of union representation as evidence of his commitment to workers [2]. In 2019, he responded to reports of a rat infestation at SJK(T) Thiruvalluvar in Teluk Intan by personally visiting the Tamil school alongside local authorities [6]. On Indian community affairs, his portfolio explicitly includes Indian Community Affairs, reflecting a consistent focus on the welfare of the Indian community in Perak across his multiple EXCO tenures [7].

Education

1. Pre-1980sAttended Universiti Malaya, per Wikidata records citing the Chinese Wikipedia source.⛓

Before politics

1. Pre-2008Served as secretary in several public and private sector unions; held the position of vice-president of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and was a Cuepacs council member; practised as a lawyer in industrial relations cases.⛓

Political career

1. March 2008First elected as Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly for Sungkai. Appointed to the Perak State EXCO under Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (Pakatan Rakyat), holding the Health, Environment and Human Resources portfolio.⛓
2. February 2009His first EXCO tenure ended with the collapse of the Pakatan Rakyat state administration in Perak.⛓
3. November 2010Co-opted as vice-chairman of the Perak DAP state committee after losing in internal party polls; accepted the offer after consultations with party members and leaders.⛓
4. May 2018Re-elected for Sungkai in GE14. Appointed to the Perak EXCO under Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Pakatan Harapan).⛓
5. March 2020Second EXCO tenure ended with the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan state administration in Perak.⛓
6. March 2021Elected to the Perak DAP state executive committee for the 2021–2024 term, serving as vice-chairman.⛓
7. November 2022Re-elected for Sungkai in GE15 with a majority of 5,238 votes. Subsequently appointed to the Perak EXCO under Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad, holding the Human Resources, Health, and Indian Community Affairs portfolio.⛓

Election history

• 2022Sungkai (N57), PerakWon⛓
• 2018Sungkai (N57), PerakWon⛓
• 2013Sungkai (N57), PerakWon⛓
• 2008Sungkai (N57), PerakWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• OppositionPSM criticised Sivanesan's handling of a hospital janitorial staff dispute, with PSM deputy chairman S Arutchelvan accusing him of being pro-employer and anti-union, and said his remarks were one-sided.⛓
• GovernmentSivanesan rejected PSM's accusations, stating his long involvement in labour unions — including serving as MTUC vice-president and Cuepacs council member — demonstrates he has never represented any employer, and that his current role as a state government member requires him to remain neutral in labour disputes.⛓
• VerifiedFactsSivanesan has served as Sungkai assemblyman since March 2008, has been appointed to the Perak State EXCO across three administrations under different coalitions, and currently holds the Human Resources, Health, and Indian Community Affairs portfolio. He is a graduate of Universiti Malaya and a former MTUC vice-president.⛓