Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has described as "very disappointing" the resignation of a prominent ethnic Indian minister from the cabinet.

P Waythamoorthy, the leader of the Hindu rights action force (Hindraf), resigned as Deputy minister in the prime minister's Department on February 10, saying that the government has failed to fulfill its promises of protecting the rights of minority groups in the Muslim-majority nation.

Expressing his disappointment, the prime minister said, "After signing a memorandum of agreement with the ruling coalition of Barisan Nasional to promote the agenda of the ethnic Indian community, Waythamoorthy's decision to step down is very disappointing."

He said,"Waythamoorthy should have met and discussed the matter with him in private before announcing the decision last Saturday. To fulfil the agreement, he should have adapted to and cooperated with the federal administrative system in order to achieve a consensus to carry out government programmes," Najib said yesterday.