MIC boss: We've the better man

By RK Anand

EXCLUSIVE KUALA KUBU BARU: The duel has been likened to that between David and Goliath, since the generals saw it fit to thrust a greenhorn onto the battlefied to slump a giant.
Biblical analogies aside, P Kamalanathan might appear taller than his opponent, but Zaid Ibrahim's credentials and experience are towering.

Unlike David who was only armed with a slingshot, the MIC information chief is backed by a well-oiled war machine, but it does not make the task of slaying a renowned former minister and MP any less arduous.

However, when FMT caught up with one of the generals, he expressed unwavering confidence in Kamalanathan's ability to emerge victorious in the battle of Hulu Selangor.

As far as MIC president S Samy Vellu is concerned, Barisan Nasional has the “better” candidate, whose profiency in Bahasa Malaysia provides him an added advantage in the Malay-majority seat.

“He is a young man, a capable man and is very good in Bahasa. Above all, he is a simple man who would go down to the grassroots to work,” he said during the exclusive interview.

The 44-year-old Kamalanathan, whose expertise is public relations, is known for his down-to-earth demeanour and people skills.

Lacking in the art of human relations
Zaid, on the other hand, said Samy Vellu, is not exactly a sociable character.

“I was in Parliament for so many years, he (Zaid) was the MP for Kota Baru. He doesn't speak to anybody easily. He is very reserved.

“When a man is so reserved, how can he get nearer to the people? Politics is about being near to the people and to be kind and caring towards them,” said the former MP and works minister.

Samy Vellu confessed that he never had a conversation or any other form of communication with Zaid before, apart from one episode where they acknowledged each other with a wave of the hand.

“I have never spoken to him even once,” he said.

The MIC president explained that he was not ridiculing Zaid, but merely stating the fact that the art of human relations is a prerequisite in politics.

Asked if this meant that Zaid's “high profile” would not have an impact on the voters, Samy Vellu said he does not believe so, while former MIC vice-president S Sothinathan, who was also present, quipped: “High profile, but cannot reach down to the low-profile people.”

It will be a close fight
Meanwhile, Samy Vellu chose to reserve his comments regarding the character assassination of Zaid in the on-going campaign, where his rivals have branded the PKR candidate as an alcoholic and gambler.
“It is better that I don't say anything about this. It is better that I don't know... I wouldn't want to comment on this,” he said.

However, the MIC president predicted a close fight between the two candidates, with the odds favouring Kamalanathan.

“The chances are good because the Umno machinery is very strong. The BN and MIC machineries are also working very hard to ensure a win,” he said.

After pausing for a moment, Samy Vellu added: “MCA is also doing something. But they are very silent, we don't know.”

I am a man of peace
The veteran politician also dismissed talk of potential protest votes or sabotage by disgruntled MIC factions with regard to the candidate.

Kamalanathan was the eleventh-hour choice after the BN leadership rejected MIC deputy president G Palanivel, a four-term MP for Hulu Selangor prior to his defeat in the 2008 general election.

His supporters are said to be seething in anger, and plotting revenge.

Another faction seeing red, is the one aligned to Hulu Selangor MIC Youth chief V Mugilan, who was Umno's preferred choice, but shot down by Samy Vellu.

According to Samy Vellu, Palanivel is on the campaign trail in support of Kamalanathan while peace has also been made with Mugilan.

“I have already spoken to Mugilan, and we have drawn up a plan. All his boys will be called to come to the Kerling estate, where we will be having our 1,000 youths dinner.

“Being president, I have to be fair to everybody. When you quarrel with people, you end up worrying for a long time. When you settle the issue, you become a man of peace, I am a man of peace,” he said.

Samy Vellu also rubbished claims that certain forces in Umno want to see MIC defeated so that Umno can take over the seat in the next general election.

He said a victory in Hulu Selangor is also crucial for Umno, whose president is bent on recapturing the Selangor state from Pakatan Rakyat in the next general election.

Plight of the poor Indians
On another issue, Samy Vellu expressed sadness over the living conditions of Indian Malaysians in the estates in Hulu Selangor.

“One of the things I have noticed since I have been working here (on the ground) is that some of the estate owners don't care about their workers. There are no proper roads or water supply.

“After coming here, I really felt I am not in Malaysia, I thought I was in some country under colonial rule,” he said, adding that the situation in the estates was better during the British rule.

Samy Vellu said while the estate communities had voted against the BN in 2008, they however have come to the realisation that “temporary emotions cannot safeguard their future”.

He added that now the federal government is serious about looking after their welfare in terms of healthcare, unemployment and the issuance of identity cards.

In view of this, the MIC president said those in the estates are more receptive of BN.

Like husband and wife
Taking a swipe at Pakatan Rakyat, Samy Vellu said the opposition coalition is very kind towards Indian voters during elections.

“This period of kindness will be for a few days, where they will visit houses and give bus fare and  tuition fees for the schoolchildren under the pretext of the Selangor government.

“If the Selangor government is so kind, it should give such aid to all the citizens in the state and not only in the by-election area. These are attractive sweeteners.

“What does BN do? It upgrades the living standards of these people. Where there is no water, it brings water, where there are no roads, it builds roads,” he said.

Samy Vellu said the living conditions of poor Indians have not changed under the Pakatan rule.

“They may be happy during by-elections, but after that, the promises are forgotten,” he said, citing the Kampung Buah Pala incident in the Pakatan-governed state of Penang.

“When (Opposition Leader) Anwar Ibrahim went there to speak (during the 2008 election campaign), he said, 'Kalau kita memerintah negeri ini, dua minggu sahaja, masalah ini sudah selesai. Tanah ini awak punya'.

“But they didn't do anything,” he said in referrence to the demolition of  the antiquated Indian settlement to pave the way for commercial development.

Conceding that it is not easy for the state government to do certain things, Samy Vellu however said it should refrain from “dramatising” issues.

When pointed out that the federal government does not cooperate with the opposition-controlled state governments, the MIC president replied: “This is like a husband and wife relationship: the husband always blames the wife, the wife always blames the husband.”

In another development, Samy Vellu refused to comment on the news report that a consortium is planning to purchase the investments of shareholders in MIC's debt-ridden financial arm, Maika Holdings.
The MIC leader said he has been instructed not to say anything further on this matter for now.
Some have dismissed the issue as an election gimmick since there are 1,500 Maika shareholders in Hulu Selangor.