KUALA LUMPUR (July 17): Four of the eight senators appointed today will be given a ministerial or deputy minister post.

They are DAP's Liew Chin Tong, Hindraf chairman P. Waytha Moorthy, forensic accountant Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), and Terengganu Parti Amanah Negara chief Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad.

In a press conference after their swearing-in at the Dewan Negara, Liew and Raja Kamarul confirmed that they have been promised ministerial positions but declined to name the portfolios, while Waytha Moorthy said he is looking forward to serving in the cabinet.

Others who were sworn in as senators today included Penang PPBM head Datuk Marzuki Yahya, Kelantan state government nominee Asmak Husin, Terengganu nominee Datuk Hussain Awang, and Datuk Ismail Ibrahim.

Liew, who previously served as the member of parliament for Kluang, lost by a slim margin to MCA's Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong when he contested the Ayer Hitam seat in the May 9 general election.

Waytha Moorthy, 52, was made a senator in 2013 before being made a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Indian community affairs in the previous government.

However, he left within a year of being appointed, alleging that the government failed to attend to the needs of the Indian community.

"I feel much better and comfortable (now) as opposed to the previous event when I was in the government. I left on grounds of principle as former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak did not keep to his word.

"I am very confident that the Pakatan Harapan government will resolve the long-standing issues that are affecting the marginalised Indian community as well as all other marginalised communities.

"I have had a lengthy chat with PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and he is very supportive and understands the predicament of the marginalised communities and he has given the mandate and assurance to serve the people.

"So I am looking forward to serving him and my fellow colleagues in the cabinet, and I look forward to serving the Malaysian public," he added.