S.A. Ganapathy was a veteran of the communist underground resistance to Japanese occupation and postwar trade unionist in then Malaya (Malaysia).

S.A. Ganapathy, the first president of the 300,000-strong Pan Malayan Federation of Trade Unions (PMFTU) was hanged by the colonial authorities on 4 May, 1949 after being questionably convicted for allegedly being in possession of firearms. He was said to be on the way to the police to surrender a firearm, when he was arrested by the police and sentenced to hang in Pudu Jail.

P.Veerasenan was an active unionist in the 40s. He became the Secretary general of the Habour Labour Union. His brave and firm leadership made him an active unionist at the national Level. Besides being a committee member of the strong Pan-Malayan Federation of Trade Union (PMFTU), he was also the President of one section of the Singapore General Labour Union.

P.Veerasenan is introduced to the youths of today as a symbol of bravery and
sacrifice in fighting for workers rights. Among some of his great achievement along with other worker leaders were:

1. Increased the daily wage from 55 cents to 95 cents
2. Reduced the working days from seven to six
3. Established 8 working hours a day.
4. Employers must provide drinking water, housing and sanitation facilities for workers.

The history of P.Veerasenan, S.A. Ganapathy and other great fighters like him has been hidden from the public. The capitalist and the British feared them and had to put them to death.

-MERDEKA