On Dec 18, 2010 I was appointed as a vice president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). I welcome this appointment and thank Keadilan for placing their trust in me by appointing me to this position. I hope to bring to the important task facing me, the experience I have gained from more than a decade's work as a human rights lawyer, an activist, and an NGO leader.  

That experience taught me that many of the problems facing the people can only be resolved by engaging in the political process, in order to reform and change the way this country is administered.

And I have no doubt that Keadilan and the wider Pakatan Rakyat have the resolve and capability to carry out this process of reform and change, and to create a fairer, more just, and more prosperous Malaysia. Pakatan Rakyat's Common Policy Framework is humanist, compassionate, practical and achievable. It is a sign-post to a better future for all Malaysians.  

Unlike the Barisan Nasional component parties, Keadilan is a multi-racial party that acts in the interest of all the races of this country. I recognise that different types of problems are faced by the various communities in this country. These problems have to be looked into according to the needs of each community.

I am fully aware of the serious problems faced by the Indian community in this country, and resolve to attend to it, hand in hand with the issues facing all the other communities. No community or segment of this country can be said to be enriched, if their brethren in another community remain impoverished. As a human rights lawyer and activist I have represented victims of all races such as Kugan, ex-airman Tharmendran, Aminulrasyid Amzah and Norizan Salleh. As vice president of Keadilan I will continue to assist my fellow Malaysians of every race and creed.  

I do not believe in a politics of cliques, factions and coteries. I believe the aim of politics is not self-aggrandisement or to profit oneself, but to benefit the people and uplift the nation. Whosoever has the good of the people at heart, he is my ally in this struggle.  

I call upon all Malaysians who love freedom and justice to rally around us, and help us save this country from the grip of oppression and misrule.

I take this opportunity to wish all Malaysian Christians a Merry Christmas!

N Surendran is PKR vice-president.