KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 – The political power of Indian leaders in the People’s Justice Party (PKR) appears to be waning following the defeat of several key Indian figures in the recent party branch elections. However, amidst what seems to be a gloomy period for the Indian community in PKR, one name continues to shine – Dato R. Ramanan, the Member of Parliament for Sungai Buloh, who is fondly referred to by the grassroots as the “beloved son” of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Notable figures who were defeated include:
R. Yuneswaran (Segamat), who lost to M. Prakash
P. Prabakaran (Batu)
S. Kesavan (Sungai Siput)
Saraswathy Kandasami, Deputy Minister of National Unity
These defeats have sparked concern that Indian influence in PKR’s top leadership is diminishing and may no longer be as dominant as it once was.
Nevertheless, Dato Ramanan has emerged as a beacon of hope. Known for his active grassroots engagement, firm stance in parliamentary debates, and good relations across all ethnic communities, he is widely viewed as the most suitable candidate to restore Indian strength within the party.
According to internal sources, Anwar Ibrahim himself places deep trust in Dato Ramanan’s loyalty and hard work. Many believe he is likely to be appointed as a Full Minister in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
Historically, several Indian leaders played significant roles in PKR, including:
Datuk Seri Edmund Santhara
N. Surendran
Datuk N. Gobalakrishnan
However, these leaders are no longer active or have stepped away from PKR’s mainstream.
This raises a pressing question: Can Dato Ramanan become the ‘saviour’ of Indian leadership legacy in PKR? Or will the Indian community continue to be sidelined amidst the party’s new wave of reforms?