PUTRAJAYA, July 30 – Datuk Seri Najib Razak will make MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department as proof of his administration’s commitment to the Indian community.

Najib told MIC delegates at the party’s 65th general assembly here that he has already received consent from the King and expects Palanivel (picture) to be sworn in soon.

“I’m going back to the days during Tun Razak’s time when he had two Malaysian Indians in his Cabinet,” he told a jubilant crowd.

Najib later told reporters Palanivel’s portfolio will be announced after the MIC president has been sworn in as minister.

He also denied that the move to elevate Palanivel, currently the deputy minister for plantation industries and commodities, was an election ploy.

“We appreciate the contribution of the Indians and Indians need more effective representation from two full ministers,” he said.

Palanivel said his “surprise” elevation to full minister was not only in recognition of MIC but the Indian community as a whole.

He said that having two Indian ministers in Cabinet would help MIC ensure that the hopes and desires of the community are fulfilled.

“We actually have been having two ministers, once during the time of Tunku Abdul Rahman... then during the time of Tun Razak,” he said.

“Now after many, many years, the community has got back what it wanted. We hope that with this appointment, we will be able to deliver more for the Indian community and for all others in this country.”

Najib had vowed to cut the bloat in the Cabinet after he took power in April 2009 after inheriting 32 full ministers from the previous Abdullah administration.

The prime minister has also gone on a charm offensive to win over Indians, who make up 7.3 per cent of the population, by making Deepavali a holiday for universities and providing vegetarian meals on campus and buses to take Hindu students to temples on Fridays.