My personal thanks to Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar bin Jamaluddin who in his speech declared his support for naming a road in Ipoh to honour the late P. Patto for his contributions and sacrifices for the welfare of Malaysians in the service of Ipoh, Perak and Malaysia. P Patto was the pioneer warrior of Makkal Sakthi who had dedicated his life to “People’s Power” for all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion.
He was indeed a great man who could speak fluently in all four languages, Malay, English, Mandarin and of course Tamil. He would be very proud of the achievements of PR if he still alive until today. Another person to be remembered along with P Patto is the late V. David truly gave opposition a more multi-racial look. It’s sad that these great Malaysians are not around anymore to champion a more vibrant democracy in Malaysia and voicing the minority rights in Parliament especially Malaysian Indian.
P. Patto was one of the more than hundred detainees that was detained under the Internal Security Act during Operasi Lalang 1987. Then he served detention in Kamunting for 15 months. Other DAP MPs who “graduated” from Kamunting Detention Centre included Karpal Singh, Lim Guan Eng, Dr. Tan Seng Giaw, Lau Dak Kee and the late V. David. Malaysian opposition lost an outstanding leader and the people a great Parliamentarian and a true Malaysian son when he suddenly died of a heart failure at the Ipoh General Hospital on 12th July 1995.
Let us Malaysian together fully honour Patto whether by naming a road, a memorial park, a school or a scholarship after him so that his contribution, dedication and sacrifices will forever be an example to future generations. Malaysian especially Indian must always remember P Patto as the warrior of Makkal Sakthi.
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