KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 -- MIC vice-president Datuk T. Mohan and the president of the Malaysian Siamese Association, Aknan a/l Ethook, today took their oath as senators for the second term.

They took their oath of office, which is until 2023, before Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim.

Aknan, 58, from Tumpat, Kelantan, was appointed a senator for the first time on Dec 15, 2017.

He was formerly secretary at the Oil Palm and Sago Industry Development Division of the Ministry of  Plantation Industries and Commodities and also former Selangor Buddhist Association chairman.

As for Mohan, 47, who was sworn in as senator for the first time on Nov 16, 2016, he was MIC Youth chief between 2009 and 2013, and was recently appointed as deputy chairman of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

When met by the media, Aknan said he would continue to fight on economic and education issues involving the Siamese community in the country, as well as on efforts to recognise the community as a bumiputera.

”I am also happy that the Malaysian government provides unrecorded leave for  Siamese in the civil service to celebrate the Songkran Festival in the country. It shows the government’s appreciation of the Siamese community,” he said.

For Mohan, he will focus on assisting the government in efforts to control the spread of the pandemic, as well as issues on occupational safety and health.

Meanwhile, Rais reminded members of the Senate to understand the aspirations  behind their appointment as provided under articles 45 (1) and (2) of the Federal Constitution.

He hoped they would make full use of their respective professional background to debate something of quality in line with the position of the Senate as the country's highest legislative body. -- BERNAMA