PKR said it welcomes Hindraf’s call for a discussion with de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, and has nominated its vice president Tian Chua to meet with the NGO in his place.

“PKR welcomes the efforts of NGOs and other types of organisations which work to improve the well-being of communities which face serious problems and have been left behind in consequence of neglect and indifference by the BN government.

NONE “In this context, we are supportive of Hindraf's efforts to improve the situation of marginalised sections of the Indian community,” said PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (left) in a statement today.

He was responding to Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy’s recent invitation for Anwar to discuss the socio-economic problems faced by the Indian community.

“In this regard, we have nominated a vice president of PKR and MP Tian Chua to meet with Waythamoorthy to engage in the discussion requested by Hindraf,” said Saifuddin.

On Aug 29, Waythamoorthy issued an invitation to both the opposition coalition's Anwar and the ruling party's Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to meet with him to find a “permanent” resolution to the Indian community’s problems.

Waythamoorthy left the country soon after the Hindraf rally in November 2007 to take the movement’s campaign global. His passport was revoked on April 2008.

After nearly five years of self exile, he returned to the country on Aug 1 without a hitch.