Dr Subramaniam (left) and MIC president Datuk Seri G Palanivel with Najib after the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.
PUTRAJAYA: MIC deputy president Datuk Seri S Subramaniam has urged members to accept the prime minister's decision to include Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairman P.Waythamoorthy into the Cabinet.
He reiterated that the party, however, held a different view from the prime minister.
He said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak must have certain reasons to bring in the Hindraf leader who was once a strong opponent and vocal critic of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government and MIC for purportedly not looking after the lot of the Indian community.
"The matter (Waythamoorthy's appointment) was not discussed with us (MIC) and it came as a surprise news.
"Well, he (Najib) had made the decision, although our views are different (and) there have been reactions from the Indian community.
"So, we have to honour and respect him (Najib), and we need to accept Waythamoorthy," Dr Subramaniam said after attending a farewell reception for him and former human resources deputy minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan, hosted by the ministry.
Dr Subramaniam retained the Segamat seat in the 13th general election, has been appointed Health Minister.
Maznah retained the Muadzam Shah state seat in Pahang.
Dr Subramaniam said what was important now was Waythamoorthy's willingness to work as a team with MIC in the interest of the Indian community in particular, and the people as a whole.
"It is very important that we can work as a group. I hope the MIC members too will accept the PM's decision (on Waythamoorthy)," he added.
The Kelantan-born Waythamoorthy is the first leader from an Indian-based civil society organisation to be appointed deputy minister.
On April 18 this year, Hindraf and Barisan signed a memorandum of understanding covering six main issues with the aim of bringing poor Indians into the country's mainstream development. - Bernama
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