I first met Dr Rajakumar in 1979 as a member of a group of medical students who met up with him for a discussion. He was then the president of the MMA (Malaysian Medical Association). What struck me then was his energy and enthusiasm.

He challenged us to visit rural areas to understand the problems faced by the ordinary people living in kampungs. "How can you be good doctors if you do not understand the background and the problems of the rural people?" he asked us. "A good doctor must be an advocate for the poor!"