# Subramaniam Sathasivam

Subramaniam s/o. K. V. Sathasivam (Tamil: சுப்ரமணியம், romanized: Cupramaṇiyam; born 1 April 1953) is a Malaysian politician who served as Minister of Health from May 2013 to May 2018, Minister of Human Resources from March 2008 to May 2013, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Local Government from 2004 to 2008 and Member of Parliament (MP) for Segamat from March 2004 to May 2018. He is a member and served as 9th President of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, in an acting capacity from June 2013 to June 2015 and officially from June 2015 to July 2018. He was one of two ministers of Indian ethnicity and one of three MIC candidates to retain their federal seats in the 2008 general elections.

## Early life and education

Subramaniam was born on 1 April 1953 to Sathasivam, an assistant registrar of trade unions. He received his early education at the Penang Free School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1978. Upon graduation from the NUS, Subramaniam returned to Malaysia to serve in the Ministry of Health at the District Hospital in Taiping, Perak. He moved from Taiping, Perak to Tangkak in Johor and then Malacca, where he established his private practice in 1985.
Subramaniam is a trained dermatologist. He furthered his medical practice with a focus on Dermatology, obtaining the Diploma in Dermatology (with distinction) from the University of Wales (UK) in 1994 and Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) in Ireland in 1998. He was elected President of the Malacca Branch of the Malaysian Medical Association (1992 to 1994).
Subramaniam is married to S. Umarani.

## Ministerial career
### Minister of Health

After the 2013 election, Subramaniam became the Minister for Health. This returned him to the Ministry where he first served as a house officer, citing preventive health and public awareness of health issues as priorities. He worked to formulate a health transformation plan to address the country's challenges and needs, focusing on increasing public awareness on health issues, particularly early detection and disease prevention.
During his tenure, he supported oral health initiatives in Malaysia, emphasizing the integration of oral health promotion into general health. He contributed to oral health-related events locally and internationally.
Subramaniam worked to maintain the ministry's relations with health professional groups to improve overall health levels in Malaysia.

#### National Level Blood Donor Day Award

At the National Level Blood Donation Day Celebration and Celebration Night 2017, Subramaniam, on behalf of the Health Ministry and the Malaysian government, thanked blood donors for their contributions to the National Blood Center's agenda. In 2016, the National Blood Center received a total of 693,608 blood bags, 68.1% from repeat donors and 31.9% from new donors. He encouraged non-donors to participate, noting a 30% increase in female blood donors. He also highlighted the "Blood Stock System," used to manage blood stocks and identify areas with shortages to facilitate stock transfer from other centers.

#### International Medical Device Conference 2017

Subramaniam officiated the International Medical Device Conference 2017. This conference aimed to provide a forum for regulators, institutions, providers, research institutes, and stakeholders to discuss medical device regulations, quality, and safety. He participated in dialogue sessions during the conference, addressing questions and engaging in discussions.

#### Malaysian Healthy Plate with a "Semi-Quarter"

Subramaniam promoted healthy eating habits to reduce the risk of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases. He introduced the Malaysian Healthy Plate with a "Semi-Quarter" concept: quarter plate carbohydrates, quarter plate protein, and half plate fruits and vegetables. This initiative aimed to address obesity and related health issues.

### Human Resource Minister

Subramaniam served as Minister of Human Resources from 18 March 2008 to 5 May 2013. He addressed unemployment, the welfare of estate workers, challenges faced by unskilled workers, and human resource capacity building. His appointment was seen as potentially beneficial for low-income groups, particularly Indians. He stated that addressing Indian employment issues was a reason the MIC was given the human resources portfolio. He quoted Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi:
   The Prime Minister is hopeful that issues related to unemployment, low numbers enrolled in skills' training institutes and the plight of estate workers among the Indian community can be effectively addressed through the ministry
Notable contributions included the implementation of the Minimum Wage Act and increasing the retirement age from 55 to 60.

### The President of Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)

Subramaniam served as acting president of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) from 25 June 2014 to 25 June 2015 before being officially elected as the ninth president, serving until July 2018.

#### Malaysian Indian Blueprint

As MIC president, Subramaniam developed a national blueprint for the Malaysian Indian community, an initiative of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The blueprint, part of the 11th Malaysia Plan, addressed areas like education, entrepreneurship, housing, employment, documentation, trade, and social development. It aimed to provide a new perspective and scope for houses of worship to contribute to the transformation of the Indian community. The blueprint focused on four aspects: identifying basic problems, realizing the potential of every child, improving livelihood and wealth, and addressing social issues, particularly for the B40 category (bottom 40% of households) over the next 10 years (from 2017). A special unit, the Unit for the Socio-Economic Development of the Indian Community, under the Prime Minister's Department, was established to monitor and implement the plan. A RM500 million fund was also established to assist small entrepreneurs and improve their economic status.
The blueprint aimed to achieve the following:
* Improved income and wealth levels for the IB40
* Improved educational attainment, closing inter-ethnic gaps
* Increased social inclusion for the Malaysian Indian community

## Election results

Parliament of Malaysia :
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout |
| 2004 | P140 Segamat | Subramaniam Sathasivam (MIC) | 17,953 | 61.96% | Pang Hok Liong (DAP) | 10,144 | 35.01% | 28,974 | 7,809 | 70.70% |
| 2008 | P140 Segamat | Subramaniam Sathasivam (MIC) | 15,921 | 53.61% | Pang Hok Liong (DAP) | 12,930 | 43.54% | 29,699 | 2,991 | 72.96% |
| 2013 | P140 Segamat | Subramaniam Sathasivam (MIC) | 20,037 | 50.34% | Chua Jui Meng (PKR) | 18,820 | 47.28% | 39,807 | 1,217 | 84.68% |
| 2018 | P140 Segamat | Subramaniam Sathasivam (MIC) | 18,584 | 41.01% | Edmund Santhara Kumar Ramanaidu (PKR) | 24,060 | 53.09% | 45,320 | 5,476 | 83.40% |
| 2018 | P140 Segamat | Subramaniam Sathasivam (MIC) | 18,584 | 41.01% | Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil (PAS) | 2,676 | 5.90% | 45,320 | 5,476 | 83.40% |

## Awards and recognitions

Subramaniam has received numerous awards and recognitions, including:
* Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
* Honorary Fellowship of the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia and Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Malaysia
* In 2016, at the 66th World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee Meeting for the Western Pacific Region, Subramaniam was appointed Vice President of the 69th World Health Assembly (WHA).

### Honours

* Malaysia :
** Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1998)
** Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (2006)
** Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2022)
* Malacca :
** Grand Commander of the Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2011)