By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia TodayINTERVIEW KUALA KUBU BARU: P Kamalanathan's hitherto serene existence has been turned topsy-turvy after being named as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the April 25 Hulu Selangor by-election.
From being a relatively unknown figure, the 44-year-old MIC information chief has been catapulted to stardom, with his face hogging the media limelight.
Kamalanathan has been described as the "eleventh-hour" choice after a protracted tussle over the candidacy between MIC and the BN leadership, which eventually saw MIC deputy president G Palanivel's name being struck off the list.
FMT managed to catch up with the BN candidate recently amidst his hectic schedule to pick his brains on the upcoming three-way contest.
Since the onset, the Hulu Selangor by-election is being touted as a "David versus Goliath" showdown, with Kamalanathan facing the more experienced politician and former law minister Zaid Ibrahim from PKR.
Kamalanathan arrived at the BN command centre in Bukit Sentosa with a lean entourage and a flurry of apologies for being late. He was immediately swarmed by well-wishers who had come from as far as Kelantan.
Why did they pick me?
For someone who has never strutted in the spotlight, Kamalanathan was taking it in his stride. In fact, he looked remarkably composed despite battling a busy schedule and keeping an eye on the clock.
“I'm thoroughly enjoying this,” he said. “I love meeting people so this is all very exciting for me. And politics is my passion so that makes it even better!”
The MIC information chief claimed that he had no knowledge that his name was being considered as the BN candidate.
According to Kamalanathan, he got the phone call at lunchtime on the day (April 17) Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was scheduled to name the BN candidate.He said the call came just as he was preparing to hit the campaign trail for either Palanivel or Hulu Selangor MIC Youth chief V Mugilan, the preferred choice of local Umno leaders.
“I was ready to roll up my sleeves for Palanivel or Mugilan. So I was shocked when I heard that I was the candidate. But this opportunity has come and I will fight wholeheartedly,” he pledged.
Asked why he was picked, Kamalanathan laughed and said that he has been asking himself the same question.
“Perhaps it's because I was involved in the re-branding of MIC or because of my background in public relations,” he mused.
“Politics is all about public relations. In public relations, there's the people and the organisation. In politics, there's the people and the government. We are the bridge that links them both,” he added.
Shelter, food and clothing
Should he win the Hulu Selangor seat, Kamalanathan said the building of that bridge will begin with the people's basic necessities.
While PKR waxes lyrical about the development it will bring to Hulu Selangor, the MIC man has a simpler agenda.
“Maslow's Hierarchy indicates that a person's basic needs are shelter, food and clothing. These are my priorities,” he stressed.
“There is no use in developing a town when the people still live in poverty. Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan (YBK) wanted to run so many projects here but the (PKR-controlled) Selangor government stood in its way.
“If YBK was allowed to do its work, Hulu Selangor will have a university by now and will have led to more income for the locals in terms of housing rents, restaurants and side businesses. Their lives will have improved tremendously,” he added.
Only afraid of God
Kamalanathan also insisted on keeping a low profile, unless the situation warranted otherwise. He also vowed to play fair and keep the duel gentlemanly.
“In the new media you have to blow your own trumpet or else others will drown you with theirs. But I will only blow mine as and when it is required. Otherwise, I will do my work quietly like I've always done,” he said.
“The one thing I will not do is get involved in character assassination. I have always believed that defamation is a sin and I will not be goaded into it. Let people say what they want. Let them pit me against Zaid. I won't take the bait,” he added.
Kamalanathan is alo unfazed about the prospect of entering the ring with a "heavyweight".
“I am only afraid of God. Zaid is just another human being like me. I have the utmost respect for him and I will not say anything about him so please don't ask me that. But I will say this much.
“The people of Hulu Selangor want a local. I have lived in Rawang for 43 years. My parents married in Serendah and I went to school in Hulu Selangor. All my friends are scattered around Serendah, Sungai Buaya and Sungai Gapi. I am as local as it gets,” he said.
Zaid, on the other hand, hails from Kelantan and was the former Umno MP for Kota Baru.
Focused on unity
Meanwhile, Kamalanathan, who speaks fluent Malay, was also confident that his ability to mingle with people from all walks of life will give him an added advantage. “I constantly update my tweets and pod casts. Just the other day, a Malay gentleman who watched me on You Tube posted a comment to say that I speak better Bahasa Malaysia than Zaid. I was extremely pleased,” he said.
Kamalanathan also elaborated on his 1Malaysia candidate description and his vision for Hulu Selangor.
“I have always been focused on unity, even before the concept of 1Malaysia. When I represented the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia in New Delhi, I presented a paper on this. Malaysia is all about multiracism and I will make sure that it lives long and strong in Hulu Selangor.
“As for this consttituency, there is a Malay saying that goes 'membersihan sungai bermula di hulu' (the purification of a river begins upstream) and the purification of Selangor (as in BN recapturing the state) will begin with Hulu Selangor. That I promise,” he stressed.
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