[UPDATED] Zahid names Ramesh Rao special officer for Indian affairs

SHAH ALAM – Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has named Datuk Seri K.N. Ramesh Rao as his special officer in charge of Indian affairs.

Zahid said Ramesh is now responsible to engage the Indian community and help to resolve their issues, regardless of their political affiliations.

Ramesh, known to be fiercely pro-Barisan Nasional, is reputed for his history of criticising and holding rancorous protests.

In February 2021, Ramesh pleaded not guilty in the Taiping sessions court to a charge related to uploading an offensive post on Twitter.

In August last year, he had made public a statutory declaration by another individual accusing a prominent opposition political leader of committing sodomy.

The individual however later lodged a police report saying he was influenced by Ramesh to file the SD and that he would be appropriately compensated.

He is also remembered for his teary speech where he broke down during a vigil outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters following the arrest of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in October 2018. He reportedly said Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was like a mother to him.

“As the deputy prime minister, I am aware of the problems that face all races in the country, and I hope that my officers can help to implement policies set by the government.

“So, to make these policies a reality, being mindful of the Indian community’s welfare, it is only fair that I offer a position to Ramesh Rao. 

“With this, I appoint him as a special officer to the deputy prime minister to help address problems faced by the Indian community,” said Zahid in his speech during a luncheon event here today.

Zahid had also called Ramesh his “younger brother”, and revealed that both of them are from the same hometown of Bagan Datuk, the parliamentary constituency the Umno president successfully defended with a slim majority of 348 votes in the recently concluded general election. 

Ramesh is the adviser of Sree Maha Kaliamman Temple and president of the Pertubuhan Minda dan Sosial Prihatin organisation. 

The luncheon today, hosted at Sree Maha Kaliamman temple here, was done to honour Zahid for helping form the current unity government.

Following his announcement of Ramesh’s appointment, Zahid then jokingly said that if there are any problems faced by members of the Indian community, they should instead blame the PSMP president instead of the government.

“If no help is readily available, don’t blame the prime minister or his deputies, blame Ramesh Rao,” said Zahid to a laughing crowd. – The Vibes, December 24, 2022