Indian-origin deputy PM demanded for Malaysia

IPOH - Makkal Sakthi, a political party of ethnic Indians, has demanded that the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat consider appointing a deputy prime minister from among Malaysia’s 2.1 million Indians.

A. Vethamurthy of the Makkal Sakthi party has urged Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister, who leads the alliance, to consider appointing an ethnic Indian as deputy prime minister, the Tamil Nesan daily reported Friday.

Earlier, Anwar had reportedly favoured the appointment of an ethnic Chinese as deputy prime minister.

Welcoming Anwar’s comments, Vethamurthy said in Ipoh that importance should also be accorded to the Indian community and an Indian should be made deputy prime minister.

Malaysia is due for a parliamentary poll in March 2012.

However, there has been speculation that it could be advanced after Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak recently said that the polls could take place “soon”.

Anwar also heads the alliance’s largest party, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

“The PKR should not forget that it managed to capture many seats in the last general election due to the support of the Indian community,” Vethamurthy said.

The PKR-led opposition won an unprecedented 88 seats in parliament and wrested control of four states in the election held in March 2008.

Vethamurthy said that the appointment of an ethnic Indian as deputy prime minister would further boost Malaysia’s image internationally.

Multi-racial Malaysia is home to seven million ethnic Chinese and 2.1 million Indians.