Trading lawyer’s bib for bullet-proof vest, Surendran wants to keep walking the talk

Human rights lawyer. First-term MP. And now, likely the first civilian to join the police force in their operations to apprehend dangerous gun-toting criminals in Malaysia.

So, one could forgive PKR vice-president N. Surendran (pic) if he looked a little pensive as he crossed his legs and leaned back on a couch in his office in Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur.

These days there is a lot on his mind, especially the police invitation which the 46-year-old had accepted.

"It’s quite ridiculous, I admit. But I agreed to it because I want the police to know that although I am critical of them, I am willing to take the risk with them" said the Padang Serai MP, giving out a
half-hearted laugh.

The invitation from police came about after he had questioned police's methods of dealing with suspected criminals. He had been vocal on the numerous shootouts where the suspects were killed by police. He questioned the need for shooting the suspects instead of attempting to arrest them.

The criticisms grew louder, but still, the invitation from the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, was surprising.

Many, including Surendran, thought that Khalid would not pursue this but when the politician was told to go for a body-armour fitting in Bukit Aman, then the protests from civil society grew louder and stronger.

Surendran was also given 10 conditions to accept, two of which are still being debated by the politician and police.

The invitation was for Surendran to be an observer during the shootout, now police said he will be a participant. Police also want him to sign a total indemnity form to free them from any
responsibility, in the event of a mishap.

“Several letters have been exchanged, and we are waiting for the police to reply on those two conditions,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

This doe-eyed vegetarian never thought he would be a lawyer, but from a young age he found it interesting to stand up against authority to fight for the "little man".

“There was a television series, Paper Chase, which had an impact on me. In the 80s, this was a weekly series, about a bunch of law students from Harvard Law School,” he said.

“I also read a memoir titled ‘Journey into the Whirlwind’ by Eugenia Ginzburg which detailed her life being imprisoned in the Soviet Union during the rule of Joseph Stalin. That was the first time I began to have this desire to fight injustice by the authorities.”

Being passionate about helping the underdog, Surendran naturally found himself fighting human rights causes.

He discovered being a lawyer was a way of standing up against authorities who trample on the basic rights of the people.

“But I know I can’t change the government if I remain just a human rights lawyer. So I went into politics. It was a natural consequence of what I was already doing for so many years. It was a logical next step,” he said shrugging his shoulders.

“I got actively involved in politics in December 2010 when I was asked to be a vice-president of PKR. That time, I had already been a member of the party for 10 years. I felt in order to achieve my aim in life, which is to return to the people their fundamental rights to freedom of speech, expression and to be free of oppressive laws, I had to be in politics.”

Surendran was born in Kuantan, Pahang. He is the third of four siblings. His eldest sister is currently in Australia, while his older brother and he live together in Bangsar where they take care of their mother. His late father was a postmaster.

“My mother, is 74 years old. She’s very frail. She suffers from memory loss, like Alzheimer’s. Sometimes she remembers me, sometimes she does not. But we have a maid looking after her full time. Other than that, when we get home, we would care for her,” he said.

“Because of my late dad’s job, we were transferred from Kuantan to Alor Star, Arau and Kangar. So I studied in several primary and secondary schools."

After completing his Form 6, Surendran came to Kuala Lumpur in 1987 to do his LLB law degree externally at a private college and completed his Certificate in Legal Practice in Universiti Malaya in the early 90s.

His former course mate and friend, M. Manogaran, a lawyer and former Teluk Intan MP, told The Malaysian Insider that Surendran was a man of principle.

“Suren is a vegetarian, not because of religion but because he does not believe in taking another life. He is a very nice guy and also one of the most eligible bachelors.”

So is he seeing anyone?

Surendran paused, smiled and said "no".

“But I have been in and out of relationships. For now, with regards to the opposite sex, I only have this to say, 'Que sera, sera'.”