The Malaysian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Datuk Seri G Palanivel is likely to be the Chief Guest at the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD). He will receive the Pravasi Bharatiya Sanman Award from President Pranab Mukherjee on January 9.

Among other Overseas Indian politicians invited include the Member of Parliament in New Zealand from National Party Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and the Member of Canadian House of Commons, Ujjal Dosanjh, who will deliver the PBD Oration on 'Reflection on Diaspora Experience' on January 8.

Born in 1949, Palanivel earlier held positions in the Malaysian Government as the Minister in Prime Minister's Department and Deputy Minister of Planta­tion Industries and Commo­dities. His previously held the position as the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Deputy Minister of Welfare and Family Development of Malaysia.

In the March 8, 2008 general elections, he was defeated in his bid for another five-year term as a Member of Parliament. He was, however, appointed as Senator in May 2010 and became the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities.

On December 6, 2010, he became the President of the Malaysian Indian Congress, which is a member of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional. On July 30, 2011, the Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that Palanivel to be appointed as Minister in the PM's Department on the MIC General Assembly and on August 9, 2011 Palanivel took the oath of office to become the minister.

After his victory in the 13th general elections in May 5, 2013, he became Malaysia's Minister of Natural Resouces and Environment.

In his own party MIC, Palanivel was its Vice Presidentdefeated a 27 year incumbent, Dato Seri S Subramaniam to become the new Deputy President of MIC in 2006. He retained his position in the MIC Elections concluded on September 12, 2009. Palanivel, was appointed as 8th President of MIC to replace S Samy Vellu on Dec 6, 2010, who held the post for 31 years.

Palanivel is a graduate in Arts from University of Malaya in 1972, majoring in history. Initially he became a teacher at the Goon Institute in Kuala Lumpur, and then at Maktab Adabi in Kuantan. In 1972 he was elected Secretary of Petaling Branch of Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), a political party which is part of the ruling coalition. He was a member of MIC since 1968.

Palanivel was a Research Assistant at the National Museum - Muzium Negara. In 1974, he joined the Consumer Association of Penang and rose to the position of is Executive Director. In 1977 he became a journalist by joining Bernama. Later he was elevated to the post of its Economic News Editor. It was during this period he was invited to become a Press Secretary to the Minister of Works who is now also the President of MIC. This was the turning point in his political career.

He was chosen as a candidate in the country's general elections in 1990 and had won every single election as a Member of Parliament till his defeat in the March 8, 2008 elections when the voters' sentiment went against the ruling coalition.

Palanivel was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Unity. He rose further to become the Deputy Minister of Rural Development of Malaysia from 1999 until 2004 when he was made the Deputy Minister of Welfare and Family Development. He continued as the Deputy Minister until his defeat in the March 2008 general elections.

Palanivel also had a stint in the corporate circle as a Business Adviser to Sports Toto and as Director of Telecoms Malaysia, Usha Martin and the Maharaja Network of Sri Lanka.