There is currently high drama with the MIC camp after party president S Samy Vellu failed to convince BN deputy chief Muhyiddin Yassin to field deputy president G Palanivel as the coalition’s candidate in the Hulu Selangor by-election.

It is understood that Samy Vellu met Muhyiddin in the deputy prime minister’s office in Parliament House early this morning in a last-ditch effort to secure Palanivel’s candidacy.

Muhyiddin is scheduled to officially announce BN’s candidate in Bukit Sentosa at 4pm today.

MIC sources said that during the meeting, Muhyiddin insisted on fielding a candidate other than Palanivel, prompting Samy Vellu to leave in order to consult his party's top brass.

Immediately after the meeting, Samy Vellu met party top brass at his home in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. 

NONEIt is learnt that party information chief P Kamalanathan (right), whose name was on the top of the list of compromise candidates, has tentatively been selected.

By 1.10pm, the meeting concluded and Samy Vellu was seen heading out, apparently to meet Muhyiddin for second round of talks.

The MIC central working committee already held an emergency meeting last night, which resolved that the party was only prepared to accept Palanivel as the candidate.

Several top MIC officials when contacted were unable to confirm details of this morning's meeting because Samy Vellu had been tightlipped.

However, the officials are confident that a second round of talks between the duo will be held this afternoon before a final annoucement is made.

PR manager

Kamalanathan, 44, is the public relations chief for Beras Jati, a rice retail company.

He had been tasked by party leaders to rebrand MIC after its disastrous performance at the 2008 general elections.

An avid blogger, Kamalanathan is a regular speaker in current affairs talk shows and also a part-time lecturer in a private college.

While not a native of Hulu Selangor, Kamalanathan lives in Rawang, which is a town not too far away from the parliamentary constituency.

It is believed that as a consolation, Palanivel may be appointed senator and given a deputy minister’s post.

Several Hulu Selangor MIC branch leaders told Malaysiakini that they were still upset because Palanivel would not be fielded but hinted that Kamalanathan’s candidacy would make a suitable compromise.

“I’m still unhappy with this decision, but I can’t comment on whether we will compromise until we meet the party leadership tonight,” said Raj.

He lamented that Kamalanathan will have his work cut out for him because he is a new face to the grassroots here, compared to Palanivel.

According to Raj, Samy Vellu would introduce Kamalanathan to the grassroots leaders after the Muhyiddin’s announcement.

Taman Rasa Utama branch chairperson R Sithambaram when told about the news responded with a big sigh.

“The president has decided. What to do? We must respect the president’s decision,” he said.

Yesterday, more than 30 out of 72 Hulu Selangor MIC branch leaders threatened to dissolve their branches should Palanivel not be made the candidate.