He said he respected everyone in the party and wanted to use his expertise towards improving health services in the state.

Lingeshwaran, 36, son of a prominent Butterworth businessman, is a former director of Hospital Sungai Bakap in mainland Penang. He took his oath of office as a senator on March 20.

He declined to respond to rumours that he is being groomed for a leadership role at state level. “I am not perturbed by any dissension with my appointment. I take my appointment as a challenge to work hard.

“When the party’s top leadership nominated me for the senator’s post, my only thought was how I could put my years of experience to improve healthcare for the rakyat,” he told FMT.

Asked if he is ready to play a bigger role in the state leadership now that he is a senator, Lingeshwaran said leadership challenges today are different from the days of patronage.

“The people today are not into that, they want to see results.” he said.