Sivakasi’s Sasindran is Papua New Guinea Governor

The eventful journey began when he spotted a job advertisement for the post of a manager of a retail shop. “I came to Malaysia in 1995 after completing Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Periyakulam and spotted an advertisement in a newspaper in 1997 about an opening in PNG,” he told PTI. “It is actually this advertisement which changed my life completely,” he said. Muthuvel became manager of a retail outlet which was owned by a Singaporean national. But the owner decided to wind up business in PNG and return.

“I was shocked with the sudden turn of events. I was left with two options — either to return or to find my way out in the Island and I chose the latter,” he said and added with a smile, “I do not have any regrets.” He started a small chain of retail outlets by the name of Hamammas which means in local language ‘I am happy’. For a year, he lived on rice and curd, till he learnt to cook other dishes, said Muthuvel, a vegetarian. He recalled the months he spent without sambar , rasam and other typically Tamil dishes. He returned home to get married. His wife Subha hails from Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.  

Both husband and wife worked hard to expand their business. They also forayed into charity. In 2007, when got his citizenship, he decided to jump into politics. He floated a new party, won the elections and later joined the ruling People’s National Party, and rose to his  current position of Governor.

Indian investors welcome

Recipient of India’s ‘Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award’ in 2012, Muthuvel feels there is a lot of potential for Indian companies to set up their base in PNG. “The operating cost may be high but the profit is equally high,” he said.  “I am looking forward to Indian companies coming here and helping us in areas like growing rice and other vegetables, exploration of oil and natural gas, gold mining,” he said, adding “I hope that they (Indian businessmen) will come one day.”