SHAH ALAM, Dec 24 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the appointment of Datuk Seri Ramesh Rao as his special officer in charge of matters related to the Indian community.

He said that Ramesh is now responsible for approaching and engaging with members of the Indian community.

"I would like to announce the appointment of a special officer for the Indian community nationwide, Ramesh Rao.

"It doesn’t matter if you are a supporter of PKR, DAP, or any other party for that matter. We must treat all races in this country well,” he said during a unity government luncheon at Sree Maha Kaliamman Temple here today.

Referring to Ramesh as his "younger brother”, Zahid joked that if Indian grouses go unheard, then it is not the fault of the current government.

"If no help is forthcoming, don’t blame the prime minister or his deputies; blame Ramesh Rao,” he said.

An ardent BN supporter, Ramesh Rao is the current Sree Maha Kaliamman Temple adviser as well as Pertubuhan Minda dan Sosial Prihatin president.

He courted controversy earlier this year, after Bukit Aman summoned him over a tweet referencing the judge in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1MDB-linked SRC International corruption case.