CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The Indian community in the country is much better off under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak than it was under the rule of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, said MyPPP president Tan Sri M. Kayveas.

He claimed that the Indians were often marginalised in terms of education, the economy and national development under the Mahathir administration.

"The Indian community totally rejects Dr Mahathir because what he did during his rule had an adverse effect on it.

"He never cared for and marginalised the development of schools, entrepreneurs, temples, NGOs and the political parties of the Indian community," he said to Bernama after handing over exercise books and calendars to pupils of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Kuala Terla, here today.

A total of 400 exercise books and calendars were distributed to eight schools in Cameron Highlands.

Last Sunday, the Pakatan Harapan opposition pact named Dr Mahathir, who is chairman of Pakatan Harapan and also of component party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), as the pact's candidate for prime minister if it wins the 14th general election.

It also named PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the candidate for deputy prime minister.

Kayveas also said that the opposition leaders who once branded Dr Mahathir as a dictator and wanted him to step down as the prime minister for having held the post for too long had nominated him to be the prime minister again.

"As a politician, I do not understand the sincerity and honesty of the opposition which is often seen to be changing political tactics and the people themselves can see their dirty political games," he added. — Bernama