View source for P. Uthayakumar

{{short description|Malaysian lawyer of Tamil origin (born 1961)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Indian name|Uthayakumar|Ponnusamy|note=on}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Uthayakumar Ponnusamy
| image              = 
| caption            = 
| native_name        = உதயகுமார் பொன்னுசாமி
| native_name_lang   = [[Tamil]]
| birth_name         = Uthayakumar Ponnusamy
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1961|11|7|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Johor]], [[Federation of Malaya]]
| nationality        = Malaysian
| other_names        = P. Uthayakumar<br>Uthaya
| known_for          = 
| education          = 
| employer           = 
| occupation         = Lawyer<br/>Activist
| party              = [[Human Rights Party Malaysia]]
| spouse             = 
| children           = 
| parents            = Ponnusamy s/o Arunasalam
| relatives          = [[Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy]], P. Waytha Nayagi
}}

'''Uthayakumar s/o Ponnusamy''' ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: உதயகுமார் பொன்னுசாமி) (born 7 November 1961) is a Malaysian lawyer of [[Tamil people|Tamil]] origin. He is the older brother of [[Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy|P. Waytha Moorthy]], with whom he founded the [[HINDRAF|Hindu Rights Action Force]] (HINDRAF). He is also the leader of the [[Human Rights Party Malaysia|Human Rights Party]] and HINDRAF 2.0.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporters |first=F. M. T. |date=2018-05-29 |title=Hindraf vs Hindraf 2.0 as original body denies making new demands |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/05/29/hindraf-vs-hindraf-2-0-as-original-body-denies-making-new-demands |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Free Malaysia Today {{!}} FMT |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Uthayakumar was born on 7 November 1961 to Ponnusamy s/o Arunasalam, a train driver<ref>[http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Asia/STIStory_183694.html Lawyer fears arrest]. Straitstimes.com.</ref> and first generation immigrant. Uthayakumar's [[paternal]] grandfather, Arunasalam was a citizen of [[British India]]. Arunasalam was brought to [[British Malaya]] to work as a labourer in a rubber estate.

Uthayakumar was brought up in [[Kelantan]], where the majority of its inhabitants were [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malays]] and is able to speak [[Kelantan–Pattani Malay|Kelantan Malay]] fluently.

Describing himself as patriotic, Uthayakumar claims to have worn the [[Jalur Gemilang|Malaysian flag]] on his blazer while a student despite belittlement from his friends, and kept a Malaysian flag on his desk after starting his legal firm. Uthayakumar took off the flag after the [[2001 Kampung Medan riots]], saying:

{{blockquote|I believe that as much as I want to be Malaysian, the Malay majority Muslim do not want me as a Malaysian, they do not recognize me as a Malaysian, they do not accept me as a Malaysian.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKz-wpr_uBc Uthayakumar: "I'm no racist!"]. YouTube.com (5 December 2007).</ref>}}

== Political career and activism ==
Uthayakumar was the former leader of Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim), which broke off from [[People's Justice Party (Malaysia)|Parti Keadilan Nasional]], which it accused of being anti-Indian,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hooi |first=Ng Boon |date=2001-05-11 |title=Prim pulls out from Teluk Kemang fight |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/2918 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref> and was most recently the leader of the [[Human Rights Party Malaysia|Human Rights Party]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporters |first=F. M. T. |date=2018-05-29 |title=Hindraf vs Hindraf 2.0 as original body denies making new demands |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/05/29/hindraf-vs-hindraf-2-0-as-original-body-denies-making-new-demands |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Free Malaysia Today {{!}} FMT |language=en}}</ref>

As leader of Prim, Uthayakumar was involved in calling for an inquiry or formation of a royal commission to look into the [[2001 Kampung Medan riots]], an episode of sectarian violence between the Malay and Indian community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yi |first=Beh Lih |date=2003-03-24 |title=Kg Medan tragedy still unresolved two years on, complains Prim |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/14884 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref>

In 2004, Uthayakumar was threatened and assaulted at gunpoint by unidentified assailants. He applied for [[Asylum seeker|asylum]] in the [[United Kingdom]] and was placed in a safe house by the British government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yen |first=Leong Kar |date=2004-06-02 |title=Lawyer in British safe house pending asylum request |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/20139 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref> He returned to Malaysia after the government publicly guaranteed his safety.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yen |first=Leong Kar |date=2004-06-07 |title=Govt pledges safety of human rights lawyer |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/20200 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref>

in 2006, the [[Hindu Rights Action Force]] (HINDRAF) was formed as a coalition more than 50 Hindu organisations in response to increasing [[Spread of Islam|Islamisation]] and the ineffectiveness of the [[Malaysian Indian Congress]] in advocating for the interests of [[Malaysian Indians]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Shekhar |first=Vibhanshu |date=2008 |title=Malay Majoritarianism and Marginalised Indians |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40277174 |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=43 |issue=8 |pages=22–25 |issn=0012-9976}}</ref>

In 2007, Uthayakumar participated in the HINDRAF-led [[2007 HINDRAF rally|mass rally]] on 25 November against, broadly, racial and religious discrimination, with the ultimate goal of submitting a petition to the [[British High Commission]] addressed to [[Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cangià |first=Flavia |date=2014 |title=The Hindu Rights Action Force and the Definition of the ‘Indian Community’ in Malaysia |url=https://www.socresonline.org.uk/19/4/3.html |journal=Sociological Research Online |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=3 |issn=1360-7804}}</ref> This rally, participated by an upper estimate of 50,000 people, was preceded by a series of smaller rallies in previous months across the country. The police obtained a court order banning the rally and it was violently dispersed with the use of tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bunnell |first=Tim |last2=Nagarajan |first2=S. |last3=Willford |first3=Andrew |date=2010 |title=From the Margins to Centre Stage: 'Indian' Demonstration Effects in Malaysia's Political Landscape |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43079912?read-now=1&seq=5#page_scan_tab_contents |journal=Urban Studies |volume=47 |issue=6 |pages=1257–1278 |issn=0042-0980}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tsin |first=Soon Li |date=2007-11-23 |title=Cops obtain rare court order against Hindraf |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75175 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref> The rally and the government's response to it is understood to have contributed to its electoral setback in the [[2008 Malaysian general election]], where Malaysian Indian support for the government plummeted.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Singh |first=Bilveer |date=2009 |title=Malaysia in 2008: The Elections That Broke the Tiger's Back |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/as.2009.49.1.156 |journal=Asian Survey |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=156–165 |doi=10.1525/as.2009.49.1.156 |issn=0004-4687|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Arrest and imprisonment==
Uthayakumar was arrested on 11 December 2007 on the charge of [[sedition]] for authoring a letter addressed to [[United Kingdom]] prime minister [[Gordon Brown]] accusing the Malaysian government of ethnic cleansing. A few hours after posting a RM50,000 bail, Uthayakumar was re-arrested for a separate sedition charge and brought to [[Pudu Prison]].<ref>[http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/11/nation/20071211210630&sec=nation "Uthayakumar nabbed, freed on bail, nabbed again"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521090255/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F12%2F11%2Fnation%2F20071211210630&sec=nation |date=21 May 2011 }}. ''The Star'' (11 December 2007).</ref> The latter charge was dropped and Uthayakumar released the day after.<ref>[http://www.malaysiakini.tv/?vid=1531 "After 'missing' for 24 hrs, Uthayakumar is freed"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721113332/http://www.malaysiakini.tv/?vid=1531 |date=21 July 2011 }}. Malaysiakini.tv.</ref>

Two days later on 13 December, Uthayakumar and other HINDRAF leaders, including [[M. Manoharan]], V. S. Ganapathy Rao, K. Kengadhadran and T. Vasantha Kumar were arrested under the [[Internal Security Act (Malaysia)|Internal Security Act]] (ISA) for their role in organising the HINDRAF rally.<ref>[http://www.policewatchmalaysia.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1197534836&archive=&start_from=&ucat=9& 5 leaders of HINDRAF namely P.Uthayakumar, M.Manoharan, R.Kengadharan, B Ganabathi Rao and Vasanthan has been arrested under ISA.]</ref> Uthayakumar left two parting videos stating that he had expected his arrest under the ISA, thanked HINDRAF supporters, and urged them not to resort to violence.<ref>[http://www.malaysiakini.tv/?vid=1535 Uthaya's ISA message to supporters] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721113730/http://www.malaysiakini.tv/?vid=1535 |date=21 July 2011 }}. Malaysiakini.tv.</ref><ref>[http://www.malaysiakini.tv/?vid=1534 Part 2: Uthaya's ISA message to Hindraf supporters] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721113826/http://www.malaysiakini.tv/?vid=1534 |date=21 July 2011 }}. Malaysiakini.tv.</ref> He was detained under the act until 2009.

He was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison under the charge of [[sedition]] in 2013. He refused to submit a final defence as a protest against "institutionalised racist government policies".<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 June 2013 |title=Uthaya sentenced to two-and-half-year jail term for sedition |url=https://theedgemalaysia.com/article/uthaya-sentenced-two-and-half-year-jail-term-sedition |access-date=24 April 2025 |website=The Edge Malaysia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lin |first=Koh Jun |date=2013-06-05 |title=Hindraf founder defies sedition charge with silence |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/232075 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref> He was released from prison after successfully appealing for a shorter 24-month sentence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 October 2014 |title=Hindraf’s Uthayakumar freed after completing shortened sentence |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2014/10/03/hindrafs-uthayakumar-freed-after-completing-shortened-sentence/757115 |access-date=24 April 2025 |website=www.malaymail.com}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Uthaykumar is married to Indradevi and lives in Kuala Lumpur with his children.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www5.malaysiakini.com/news/75895 |title=Hindraf leader faces fresh sedition charge |accessdate=2007-12-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205071116/http://malaysiakini.com/news/75895 |archivedate=5 February 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He is also the elder brother of Former HINDRAF chairman and [[Malaysian Advancement Party]] (MAP) leader [[Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy]].

==Election results==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Dewan Rakyat|Parliament of Malaysia]]'''<ref name ="myundi pru 13">{{cite web |url=http://www.myundi.com.my/pru13/region.aspx |title=my undi : Kawasan & Calon-Calon PRU13 : Keputusan PRU13 (Archived copy) |website=www.myundi.com.my|access-date=2014-04-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331000718/http://www.myundi.com.my/pru13/region.aspx |archive-date=31 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Utusan PRU 13 results">{{cite web|url=http://ww2.utusan.com.my/utusan/special.asp?pr=PilihanRaya2013&pg=keputusan.htm|title=Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13|work=[[Utusan Malaysia]]|access-date=26 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321134049/http://ww2.utusan.com.my/utusan/special.asp?pr=PilihanRaya2013&pg=keputusan.htm|archive-date=21 March 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://resultpru13.spr.gov.my/module/keputusan/paparan/paparan_laporan.php|title=KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13|work=Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum|publisher=[[Election Commission of Malaysia]] |language=ms|access-date=24 March 2017}}</ref>
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!|Ballots cast
!|Majority
!|Turnout
|-
| rowspan=3|[[2013 Malaysian general election|2013]]
| rowspan=3|P111 [[Kota Raja (federal constituency)|Kota Raja]]
| rowspan=3 {{party shading/Independent}} |
| rowspan=3|Uthayakumar Ponnusamy ([[Independent politician|IND]])
| rowspan=3 align="right" |2,364
| rowspan=3 align="right" |2.58%
|{{Party shading/PAS}} |
|{{nowrap|'''[[Siti Mariah Mahmud]]'''}} ([[Malaysian Islamic Party|'''PAS''']])
| align="right" |'''59,106'''
|'''64.51%'''
| rowspan=3|92,719
| rowspan=3|29,395
| rowspan=3|87.55%
|-
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|[[Murugesan Sinnandavar]] ([[Malaysian Indian Congress|MIC]])
|align="right" |29,711
|32.43%
|-
|{{party shading/Independent}} |
|Azman Idrus ([[Independent politician|IND]])
|align="right" |280
|align="right" |0.31%
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Selangor State Legislative Assembly]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://resultpru13.spr.gov.my/module/keputusan/paparan/paparan_laporan.php|title=KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13|work=Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum|publisher=[[Election Commission of Malaysia]] |language=ms|access-date=24 March 2017}}</ref>
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!|Ballots cast
!|Majority
!|Turnout
|-
| rowspan=4|[[2013 Selangor state election|2013]]
| rowspan=4|N49 [[Seri Andalas (state constituency)|Seri Andalas]]
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Independent}} |
| rowspan=4|{{nowrap|Uthayakumar Ponnusamy}} ([[Independent politician|IND]])
| rowspan=4 align=right|614
| rowspan=4 align=right|1.26%
|{{Party shading/Keadilan}} |
|{{nowrap|'''[[Xavier Jayakumar Arulanandam]]'''}} ([[People's Justice Party (Malaysia)|'''PKR''']])
| align=right|'''31,491'''
|'''64.43%'''
| rowspan=4|49,552
| rowspan=4|15,633
| rowspan=4|87.30%
|-
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|[[Mohan Thangarasu]] ([[Malaysian Indian Congress|MIC]])
| align=right|15,858
|32.45%
|-
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|Hanafiah Husin ([[Independent politician|IND]])
|align=right|871
|align=right|1.78%
|-
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|Kottappan Suppaiah ([[Independent politician|IND]])
|align=right|41
|align=right|0.08%
|}

==See also==
* [[Human Rights Party Malaysia]] (HRP)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uthayakumar, Ponnusamy}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Malaysian Hindus]]
[[Category:20th-century Malaysian lawyers]]
[[Category:Human Rights Party Malaysia politicians]]
[[Category:Malaysian democracy activists]]
[[Category:Malaysian human rights activists]]
[[Category:Malaysian prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:People from Kelantan]]
[[Category:Malaysian activists]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Tamil descent]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Independent politicians in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Malaysian political party founders]]
[[Category:21st-century Malaysian lawyers]]