MIC vice-president Datuk S. A. Vigneswaran was sworn in today as the new president of the Dewan Negara, taking over from Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang who completed his term of office yesterday.

Vigneswaran, 51, who was appointed a senator on June 23, 2014, took his oath of office as the 17th Dewan Negara president before Dewan Negara deputy president Datuk Seri Abd Halim Abd Samad.

Abu Zahar and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia also attended the swearing-in ceremony.

The Kuala Lumpur-born Vigneswaran, who is MIC Klang Division chief, holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Staffordshire University, England, and a Universiti Malaya Certificate in Legal Practice.

He is chairman of the Malaysian Indian Youth Development Foundation.

Vigneswaran was the MP for Kota Raja in Selangor from March 2004 to March 2008 and was parliamentary secretary to the Youth and Sports Ministry during that period.

In MIC, Vigneswaran had held the post of MIC Youth chief.

He lost in the contest for one of three posts of vice-president in 2013 but won a vice-presidency in the re-elections held on Nov 6 last year.