Kuala Lumpur: Former MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel died today at the age of 76. MIC vice-president Datuk T. Murugiah, when contacted by Bernama, confirmed that the former Minister of Natural Resources and Environment passed away at Kuala Lumpur Hospital at 8 am.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Palanivel was born on March 1, 1949, in Penang and began his career as a research officer for the Bujang Valley Project at the National Museum in 1973. He later transitioned to the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) as a senior journalist in April 1977. By 1984, he had been appointed as the editor for domestic and economic news at the agency.

Palanivel’s political career began in earnest when he was seconded as press secretary to then Works Minister, Tun S. Samy Vellu, from 1987 to 1990. He had been actively involved in politics through the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) since the early 1970s and made his first electoral contest in 1990.

In the 1990 General Election, Palanivel won the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat and served as its MP for four consecutive terms until he lost the seat in 2008. He returned to Parliament in 2013 as the MP for Cameron Highlands.