Vigneswaran, 51, who was appointed a senator on June 23, 2014, took his oath of office as the 17th Dewan Negara president before Dewan Negara deputy president Abd Halim Abd Samad.

Abu Zahar and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia also attended the swearing-in ceremony.

The Kuala Lumpur-born Vigneswaran, who is MIC Klang division chief, holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Staffordshire University, England, and a Certificate in Legal Practice.

He is chairman of the Malaysian Indian Youth Development Foundation.

Vigneswaran was the MP for Kota Raja in Selangor from March 2004 to March 2008 and was parliamentary secretary to the Youth and Sports Ministry during that period.

In MIC, Vigneswaran has held the post of MIC Youth chief.

He lost in the contest for one of three posts of vice-president in 2013 but won a vice-presidency in the re-elections held on November 6 last year.

After the swearing-in, Vigneswaran expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Najib Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman, in a statement, said she hoped that Vigneswaran would maintain the integrity of the legislative body.

She said she was confident Vigneswaran would be able to discharge his responsibilities and conduct the proceedings of the house in a just manner.

“I believe the new president of the Dewan Negara will be able to carry out the responsibilities entrusted upon him well under the parliamentary democracy of the country,” she said.

– BERNAMA