Leelavathi Govindasamy

Datuk Dr. Leelavathi Govindasamy (Tamil language|Tamil: லீலாவதி கோவிந்தசாமி) (6 August 1944- 9 March 2017), commonly known as Datuk Dr. G. Leela Rama, was a Malaysian Indian politician in Malaysia.
She held her last position in the Malaysian Government as the Member of Parliament, Malaysia for the Kapar constituency in Selangor from 1995 to 1999, from the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. She was the First Malaysian Indian Lady to be elected to Parliament of Malaysia. In the 9th General Elections, she won by majority of 18,759 votes.Parlimen.gov.my. 2021. Official Portal of The Parliament of Malaysia - Members. [online] Available at: <https://www.parlimen.gov.my/ahli-dewan.html?&uweb=dr&arkib=yes&vol=9&lang=en> [Accessed 12 September 2021].
==Background==
Datuk Dr. G. Leelavathi was born in Selangor in 1944 during the Japanese Occupation in Malaya. She was second in the family of six children. Her father, Govindasamy Kuppusamy, hailed from the South Indian village of Thiruvallur in the District of Tanjore and came to Malaya as a very young man. He received his education in Anglo Chinese School in Bukit Rotan in 1941 and School of Commerce in 1947. He worked as a teacher from 1927 and later became a Chief Police Clerk and Interpreter and served the Malaysian Police Force for 26 years. He married Madam Kuppamal Rengasamy from Port Dickson on 18 September 1939. Govindasamy Kuppusamy played an important role in the education of many well known Malaysian Indian politicians. Datuk Dr. G. Leelavathi’s siblings are G. Manonmoney, G. Jayapalan (Deceased), Dr. G. Yusuf Siddiq Jegathesan (Klinik Ringlet, Cameron Highlands), K.G. Jenarthanan, G. Sivakumaran (Deceased) and G. Malathi. Datuk Dr. G. Leelavathi received her early education at Methodist Girls School, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur Leaving Certificate Methodist Girls School Kuala Lumpur, Year December 1962, school no.3445. She was an intelligent student who continued her tertiary education at Queen Mary’s College, Madras for Bachelor of Science, Zoology.Social Service League Elementary Basic School, Queens Mary College Madras-4, Year April 1965 She graduated in the field of Medicine in September 1974 from Coimbatore Medical College, India, affiliated with Madras Medical University. She married Ramasamy Muniandy on 11 November 1978 who is also active in politics as a Branch Chairman of Pandan under the MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress). Leelavathi has 2 children, Dr. Sharmila Ramasamy and Preeveen Ram Ramasamy Utusan Borneo, 1995. Anak calon BN yang akan bertanding kerusi Parliamen Kapar, Klangand son in law Ganesh Gerald Muthu who succeeded as Chairman for her Jalan Mahkota Branch, under MIC and daughter in law Kukneswary Puniamurthy. She has 3 grandchildren Keeva Shreenika, Ravvesh Ganesh Gerald and Ravvesha Leela Ganesh Gerald. The Star, 10th March 2017. Obituary Datuk Dr. G. Leela Rama.
Datuk Dr. G. Leelavathi started working in Kuala Lumpur General Hospital as a Medical Officer on 30 December 1975 and later founded Klinik Leela, Taman Maluri, Cheras in 1983, currently succeeded by daughter Dr. Sharmila Ramasamy from March 2017. Green Lotus Healthcare <https://glhealthcare.com.my/>[Accessed 12 September 2021].Psp.perkeso.gov.my. 2021. DIREKTORI PANEL KLINIK SARINGAN COVID-19 RTK-AG - KUALA LUMPUR. [online] Available at: <https://psp.perkeso.gov.my/rtk/listklinikkl.php> [Accessed 3 September 2021].
She was actively involved in the field of Aesthetic Medicine under International Academy of Anti Aging and Aesthetic Medicine, USA and Nutritional Medicine under Society for Anti Aging Aesthetic and Regenerative Medicine Malaysia (SAAARMM). Datuk Dr. G. Leelavathi was awarded a fellowship by SAAARMM in the year 2015 and it was presented by Sultan Muhammad V, Sultan of Kelantan. Saaarmm.org. 2021. SAAARMM – Society for Anti-Aging, Aesthetic and Regenerative Medicine Malaysia. [online] Available at: <https://www.saaarmm.org/saaarmm/> [Accessed 3 September 2021].
==Political Career==
*MIC Branch Women Leader, MIC Brickfields Bangsar Branch Parlimen.gov.my. 2021. Official Portal of The Parliament of Malaysia - Members. [online] Available at: <https://www.parlimen.gov.my/ahli-dewan.html?&uweb=dr&arkib=yes&vol=9&lang=en> [Accessed 3 September 2021].
*MIC Branch Chairman, MIC Jalan Mahkota Branch, W.P from 1987 to 2017 (Succeeded by Ganesh Gerald Muthu- Son in Law)
*MIC Divisional Women Leader, Titiwangsa Division, Wilayah Persekutuan 
*MIC State Women Leader, Wilayah Persekutuan from 1987 to 1999 Nation, 1995. Samy Vellu wraps up meeting with unity call.
*MIC Central Working Committee (CWC) Member from 1994 to 1999
*MIC National Deputy Women Leader from 1994 to 1999
*Member of Parliament Kapar from 1995 to 1999
*Member of PAC Parliament Malaysia from 1995 to 1999
*Exco Member of National Council of Ex-Parliamentarians, (MUBARAK - Majlis Bekas Ahli-Ahli Parlimen Malaysia)
*1992 – 2017 Exco Member and Health Chairman, Kor Wanita Kota
*1985 - 2011​​ Member, Board of Governors, Tengku Budriah Orphange Home, Kuala Lumpur 
*1985 – 2011​​ Exco-Member and Health Chairman, Women Section, PEMADAM
*1986 – 1990​​ Treasurer, Malaysian Professional Society
*​​​Assistant Treasurer, National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Malaysia
==Contributions== 
*First National Rubella Injection Introduction Campaign on 18 June 1988 2017. Immunization Programme in Malaysia. [ebook] Available at: <https://www.fondation-merieux.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/vaccinology-2017-faridah-kusnin.pdf> [Accessed 3 September 2021].
*Appeared in 200 Years of Malaysian Indians Documentary, Malaysia Indian women in political and social work. 200 Years of Malaysian Indians. n.d. [video] Malaysia: Chithrayala Creations Sdn. Bhd.2017. 200 Years of Malaysian Indians. [Facebook Video] Available at: <https://www.facebook.com/sharmila.gerald/videos/10158345201755167/?d=w> [Accessed 12 September 2021].
==Honours==
===Honours of Malaysia===
* Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (P.J.N.).2016. Panglima Jasa Negara [ebook] Available at: <http://intranet.istiadat.gov.my/v5/images/DKBPP2016/3%20-%20PANGLIMA%20JASA%20NEGARA%20(PJN)%2021.02.2017.pdf> [Accessed 3 September 2021]. - which carries the title of Datuk
* Knight Commander (P.M.W.) - which carries the title of Datuk
*Ahli Mangku Negara (A.M.N) 1991
===Honours of India===
*Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award- (Overseas Indian Honour- 2007)
===Honours of Society===
====Malaysia ====
*Fellowship Society of Anti Aging, Aesthetic Regenerative Medicine Malaysia (SAAARMM) 2015- Carries a title of FSAAARMM Saaarmm.org. 2021. SAAARMM – Society for Anti-Aging, Aesthetic and Regenerative Medicine Malaysia. [online] Available at: <https://www.saaarmm.org/saaarmm/> [Accessed 3 September 2021].
==== India ====
* Fellowship Indian Nutritional Medical Association (INMA) 2016 -Carries a title of FINEM LETCHUMANAN, A., 2021. Awards from Indian government for contribution. [online] The Star. Available at: <https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2007/02/02/awards-from-indian-government-for-contribution> [Accessed 3 September 2021].
==Death==
Datuk Dr. G. Leelavathi died on 9 March 2017, at the age of 72. Reactions to the news of her death ranged from tributes around Malaysia and India. Her funeral was attended by Ministers in Malaysia. Her body was cremated at Cheras, Kuari Crematorium on 10 March 2017. Star Cherish. 2021. Datuk Dr. G. Leela Rama - Star Cherish. [online] Available at: <https://www.starcherish.com/resources/profile/datuk-dr-g-leela-rama> [Accessed 3 September 2021].
Category:Malaysian politicians
Category:1944 births
Category:2017 deaths
Category:People from Selangor