Sikh man becomes Malaysia’s first cabinet minister

Kuala Lumpur: For the first time in the history of Malaysian history of ministry, an Indian-origin Sikh politician became the first cabinet minister from the minority community in the country, that has a Sikh population of 1,00,000. Gobind Singh Deo, who was first elected as an MP in the 2008 general election, has again won 2018 election with a margin of 47,635 votes.

The 45-year-old minister has been given the communications and multimedia portfolio and is among the two politicians of Indian descent in the Pakatan Harapan coalition’s Cabinet; the other Indian-origin minister being M Kulasegaran from the Democratic Action Party, says a TOI report.

“It is good to see Gobind Singh, a member of the Punjabi community in the cabinet. It is a proud and happy occasion for our community,” said Miri Indian Association president, Councillor Karambir Singh. Deo was induced by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad during a ceremony at the National Palace on Monday.