Rumours of Mugilan and Kamalanathan’s name being proposed were going around since two weeks ago. However, MIC only put for Palanivel’s name. Till yesterday night there was big noises coming from MIC camp – CWC, branches in Hulu Selangor, and divisions in Selangor. But today afternoon saw Palanivel’s name replaced with P.Kamalanathan, the Information Chief of MIC as BN candidate for Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat by-election.

I saw part of his speech on TV just now. Quite spirited and focused on 1Malaysia thing.

“I will work hard.” he said, while thanking the BN leadership including deputy MIC president G. Palanevil for giving him the opportunity to stand as the candidate.

He vowed to take back the federal seat, formerly a BN stronghold, and deliver it to Datuk Seri Najib Razak as gift for his first year in office.

He dismissed speculation there was unhappiness by factions in MIC, who were unhappy with his nomination, and expressed confidence that he has the support of BN.

“I represent BN, I represent the brand of 1 Malaysia.”

He described himself as a soldier called into battle by the prime minister and said he was up for the challenge.

He added that he never expected to be nominated and was “shocked”, and “had shed tears” when informed by the party’s president at noon today.

He declined to comment on his political opponent from PKR but said he was ready to take to the ground and tell the people about the development opportunities BN could bring.

His BM and English is good, being from the younger generation. I’ve actually met him few times in some bloggers event and also at the Ponggal festival. I don’t know him personally so can’t say much, but he seems to be a nice focused guy. Anyway, nice or not nice doesn’t matter when in a political party as personal believes and ideals have to be sacrificed for party sake (unless you are Chew Mei Fun). He still maintains his blog, and also active in Facebook and Twitter. A bit on Kamalananthan:

Kamalanathan, 44, is a public relations expert [his is currently attached to Beras Jati), and is married to S. Shobana, a senior public relations manager at a private hospital.

He started his career as a clerk and later became a public relations officer with the Malaysian Palm Oil Promotion Council for six years.

He has a certificate in PR from the London Chambers of Commerce and Industry and a diploma in language translation and Bachelor in Mass Communications degree from Edith Cowan University in Australia.

Kamalanathan was a Selayang municipal councillor from 2004 to 2006 and the national co-ordinator for Putera MIC and party information chief since last year.

Within a span of 7 years, he has made it to be a candidate. Well done.

Anyway, if MIC members sabotage Kamalanathan, then he stands a very slim chance of winning. But not a problem as he will be renominated for GE13 as part of the newcomers.

Some interesting stories going around, including about the whole fiasco being planned in order to actually remove Palanivel so that new bloods can slowly move in and rejuvenate MIC (or so it is said). Time will only tell.

As for Samy and Palanivel, read this info from Malaysian Insider:

Samy Vellu had been saying “either Palanivel or nothing” right up to last night when he called an emergency party central working committee meeting and convinced its 35 members to unanimously back Palanivel as the candidate.

He had said MIC was ready to give the seat to Umno if Palanivel was dropped.

This morning he met Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who told him that Palanivel was a no go.

Umno feels strongly that the Hulu Selangor grassroots, irrespective of race, was set against Palanivel, a hard working and clean man, but colourless and cold to ordinary people.

Public perception ruined him and his rejection in the constituency he headed for 20 years was borne out by numerous straw polls.

Samy Vellu informed Palanivel of the bad news, and toyed with either party secretary-general S. Murugesan or Kamalanathan as a replacement.

He eventually picked Kamalanathan (picture), who has the support of vice-president Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam and his son Vel Paari and the backing of the Dewar clan which controls the MIC.

Samy Vellu’s decision to back off after putting up a strong front has roiled the MIC CWC, with members already angry with the party president for failing to keep his word.

A campaign has already been started to ask Samy Vellu to take responsibility and resign.

But Samy Vellu told the CWC last night he would not resign as president.

Samy Vellu had strongly objected to MIC Youth deputy chief V. Mugilan, the preferred Umno candidate.

He argued that Mugilan betrayed the MIC by backstabbing Palanivel and the party.

Samy Vellu also offered the seat to Umno if Palanivel was not chosen, but Muhyiddin did not take the bait as it would have gone down badly among Indian voters.

There is talk of an offer to the slighted Palanivel to be appointed a senator and later made a deputy minister as a reward for his backing of Kamalanathan. But his aides say he will reject the offer.

His political career is in great doubt after this setback, although he remains deputy party president.

Muhyiddin and Samy are still confident (but i have learnt not to believe such talks):

But the tussle between the MIC and Umno has bruised the ruling coalition, with many members from BN’s main Indian party still seething with unhappiness over the development.

“He is a workaholic, straightforward, one who means what he says.

“He’s the only candidate. There is no candidate but him,” Muhyiddin said of Kamalanathan as a smiling Samy Vellu flanked him.

In his speech to over 1,500 BN members, Muhyiddin attempted to heal the rift caused by the tussle and showered praises on Samy Vellu and Palanivel.

“Even in my sleep, I see Samy Vellu’s face. He is a great man,” he quipped.

He explained that Palanivel was not chosen to contest because voters wanted a new face, saying that BN recognised his contribution to Hulu Selangor over the years.

“We have to give credit when it is due.”

Palanivel did not attend the nomination and Muhyiddin, at a press conference later, said it could be because the MIC deputy president had other things to do or was disappointed.

“That’s a normal human emotion but it won’t stay that way for long,” he said, adding that he hoped Palanivel will help the BN campaign and win the by-election.

Samy Vellu was also in a reconciliatory mood when he spoke to reporters.

“I promised the deputy prime minister that he will say everything. Today we are listeners and will stay behind and listen to his commands and directives to ensure absolute victory.”

He said Kamalanathan was a candidate who the PM had approved and who the party had accepted, when asked by reporters if the MIC had compromised on its earlier stand.

Samy Vellu added there would be no problems with local MIC branches which earlier had threaten to “close down” if Palanivel was not nominated to stand for the by-election.

“It will be OK, I have rung them up,” he said, adding that the branches would campaign so long as the candidate was from the MIC.

Asked if he feared that there would be sabotage due to unhappiness on the ground over Kamalanathan’s nomination, he replied: “They normally don’t.”

“We have not learnt the art yet” he said.

All in all, this have been a severe insult for MIC in the eyes of public. Maybe its some scheme by MIC folks that worked in order to bring in a new person and at same time offer something to Palanivel (Deputy Minister post??? wow…), but in reality, the integrity and morality of MIC have been tarnished since they were standing firmly behind Palanivel until willing to boycott or even dissolve branches.

Pakatan will still be under dogs even with a novice opponent from BN because Kamalanathan has the might of the federal machinery behind him. And Pakatan also facing more crisis as another ADUN just quit the party (Bakar Arang ADUN Tan Wei Shu).

BN to win, unless something goes wrong.