Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak today announced a cabinet reshuffle by making ethnic Indian leader Palanivel a deputy minister and bringing in several members from minority ethnic parties.
Malaysian Indian Congress member Palanivel has been named Deputy plantation minister.
The reshuffle, involving 12 ministries, will see more figures from parties representing ethnic Chinese and Indians.
Malaysian Indian Congress, which represents the Indian community, is currently facing a major leadership debate with several MIC members demanding that party supremo Samy Vellu step down before the end of his tenure.
The troubles have undermined Najib's attempts to regain the support of minorities who had deserted the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in the last elections. Najib must call an election by 2013.
The Malaysian Indian Congress is the third-largest party.