KUALA LUMPUR – MIC vice-president and MIC Klang Division Chairman Datuk S. A. Vigneswaran was sworn-in today as the 17th President of the Dewan Negara, taking over from Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang who completed his term of office yesterday.
Vigneswaran, comes from a family of politicians long associated with MIC. His father late Mr M.Sanasi was one of the key leaders of MIC in Klang in the 1960’s and 70’s during the leadership of Tan Sri V.Manickavasagam and Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu.
Later, Vigneswaran’s uncle (Sannasi’s younger brother) Datuk Selladevan served as a Selangor State Assemblyman for Shahbandar Raya, under the leadership of Samy Vellu.
Vigneswaran served as a MIC Branch Chairman in Klang upon his return from Britain where he completed his law studies. He was also appointed as National Secretary of MIC Youth.
In 2003, he became the first National Youth leader of MIC to be elected under the newly amended MIC Constitution, which then provided for election of Youth leader instead of appointment by the President.
In 2013 Vigneswaran contested for the post of Vice President in MIC elections but was defeated. However, the 2013 party elections were later declared null and void by the RoS (Registrar of Societies).
Vigneswaran contested again for the post of Vice President in the MIC re-elections held in November 2015 and won with the highest number of votes.
Vigneswaran now 51, was appointed as a senator in 2014.
The motion to nominate Vigneswaran as Dewan Negara President was tabled by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. The nomination was seconded by Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Dr J. Loga Bala Mohan.
Vigneswaran is also the chairman of the Malaysian Indian Youth Development Foundation.
Vigneswaran also served as the Member of Parliament for Kota Raja in Selangor from March 2004 to March 2008 and was parliamentary secretary to the Youth and Sports Ministry during that period.
Today’s appointment of Vigneswaran is also seen as another recognition for MIC, as the party has successfully regained the coveted position of Dewan Negara President which had been rotated among the BN component parties.
Tan Sri Datuk G.Vadivelu representing MIC, held the position of Dewan Negara Speaker from 13 April 1992 to 12 June 1995 and the honour has once again returned to MIC after a period of 24 years.
MIC leaders congratulating Vigneswaran, together with Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin and former Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang
