At today's meeting in Kuala Lumpur to iron out their grouses, Keadilan Indian Malaysian members decided that supreme council member N Gobalakrishnan be appointed as one of the party's vice-presidents.

Keadilan former Youth exco S Manikavasagam, who attended the five-hour meeting at the party's headquarters in Phileo Damansara, said the members voted for Gobalakrishnan (photo) by a show of hands.

Manikavasagam, who is a Ampang Jaya committee member, said the grassroots wanted Gobalakrishnan as he has sacrificed a lot for the party.

He added that the members present also wanted him (Manikavasagam) to retain his Youth posts and they want to discuss the matter with deputy chief Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

"We have also set-up a Keadilan Indian Action group to deal with our problems as we think the Community Relations bureau is not effective," he said.

Indian Malaysians in Keadilan decided to meet over their dissatisfaction with the party's treatment of members from the ethnic community.

They were especially piqued with the recent annual general meet in Sungai Petani last month which they claimed had been turned into a platform to attack some individuals on a personal basis.

A non-Indian Malaysian vice-president in the party was also one of the concerns of members from this ethnic group.

Two veep vacancies

Although there are provisions in the party constitution for five vice-presidents, only three are filled currently by Hulu Kelang state assembly person Azmin Ali, Internal Security Act detainee Tian Chua and former Penang mufti Sheikh Azmi Ahmad.

When contacted, Gobalakrishnan said the members proposal to appoint him as vice president should be left to the president to decide.

He declined to comment beyond saying that the meeting today had discussed other issues including the call to the government to allow jailed former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim to go for spinal surgery in Germany.

He said the group has also decided to write to the Home Ministry to urge the release of the five detainees in Kamunting currently serving a two-year period under the Internal Security Act.

"We also want the government to reconsider the move to teach Science and Mathematics in English," he added.

Gobalakrishnan said the proposals will be sent to president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for consideration.