Indian-origin Sikh man Gobind Singh Deo appointed Malaysia's cabinet minister

Deo, 45, who has been given the communications and multimedia portfolio, is among the two politicians of Indian descent included in the Pakatan Harapan coalition's Cabinet

Gobind Singh Deo, an Indian-origin Sikh politician in Malaysia was sworn in as a cabinet minister in the prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed led-government on Monday. With this, Deo became the first member of the minority community in the country's history to be appointed as a minister.

Deo, 45, who has been given the communications and multimedia portfolio, is among the two politicians of Indian descent included in the Pakatan Harapan coalition's Cabinet.

The other Indian-origin lawmaker is M Kulasegaran from the Democratic Action Party, who has been made the human resource minister. 

Deo represents Puchong constituency in the Malaysian Parliament and is the son of late Malaysian lawyer and politician Karpal Singh.

“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. Other than being a recognition of his abilities, it is also a recognition for the long-established Punjabi community in Malaysia,” Miri Indian Association president, Councillor Karambir Singh was quoted as saying by the Borneo Post. Malaysia has nearly 1,00,000 Sikh population.