Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairman P Waythamoorthy has promised to solve the problems faced by Malaysia's minority ethnic Indian community and bring positive changes to its socio-economic position in the next five years.
Waythamoorthy, who has been appointed deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said he would focus on displaced estate workers, stateless people, education and business and job opportunities for the community members.
Describing his appointment as an opportunity to remove the minority community's problems, he said: "From now on, we will bring the voice of the poor to the government and ensure Indians gain their legitimate rights."
The 47-year-old lawyer also criticised his critics, especially Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
"To those critics, we say, go ahead and say whatever you want. We will prove all of you wrong and make you swallow your words in time. The people will take care of you in the next (general) election."
Waythamoorthy also denied that his appointment as a deputy minister was due to the MoU signed between Hindraf and Prime Minister Najib Razak's ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition on April 18.
On the friction between him and his brother, Uthayakumar, he said the latter was expelled from the movement and had no right to criticise Hindraf.
"Hindraf is not a political party. My appointment is a non-political appointment," he was quoted as saying by state run Bernama news agency.
Hindraf was instrumental in making Ethnic Indians vote for the opposition in the 2008 general elections after it had organised a massive rally to highlight alleged marginalisation by the ethnic Indians.
The May 5 general elections this year saw the ethnic Indians coming back to the BN fold though this time the Ethnic Chinese who make 25 per cent of the population voted for the opposition.
