SHAH ALAM: Indian leaders in the country must be united if they want to resolve issues faced by the community in the country, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said although the call was not new, he urged leaders to unite under one umbrella for a stronger front.

"I have told this to (MIC president Tan Sri SA) Vigneswaran and (Sungai Buloh MP Datuk R.) Ramanan repeatedly that if you want to resolve the issues plaguing the community, the first step is that Indian leaders must be united towards a common goal.

"Even though we may have different political ideologies, policies or even different opinions, we cannot set aside the fact that only with a determined political will can frameworks we have chosen be easy to implement," he said in his speech here at the Shah Alam Convention Centre on Saturday (June 10).

Anwar attended the Educational Development and Future of Indians programme, organised by Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra), which is his first meeting with the Indian community since becoming Prime Minister.

Also present were Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying, Ramanan, MIC deputy president Datuk M. Saravanan, Dewan Negara Senator Datuk Dr Nelson Renganathan and National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Charles Anthony Santiago.

Echoing the same sentiment, Vigneswaran called on the Indian community to move away from the old fashion way of thinking in order to have a brighter future.

"The reality is that if we fail to change, if we continue doing what we have been doing for the past three or four decades. I am worried we will hinder the future of our young generation. This is the reality we are facing.

"I really hope that this historic meeting will give us an opportunity to renew our vows and reignite the spirit while being committed in ensuring all of us are united to further strengthen the government," he said.