Kuala Lumpur (PTI): Samy Vellu, the lone ethnic Indian minister in the Malaysian government on Saturday suffered a shocking defeat on his birthday, losing his parliamentary seat after winning it for eight terms.

Vellu, chief of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), turned 72 on Saturday and was the Works Minister in Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's Cabinet.

An official announcement on Vellu losing from his Sungei Siput parliamentary seat in Perak state has not been announced by the Election Commission as yet.

Vellu lost to opposition Partiso Sialis Malaysia (PSM) candidate Dr D Jeyakumar, whom the ethnic Indian had defeated in the 2004 polls.

Vellu had earned the ire of the Indian community for deriding the protests led by NGO Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) against alleged racial discrimination since November last year.