PR man Kamalanathan's public relations blunders
COMMENT Barisan Nasional candidate P Kamalanathan, a PR manager by profession, seems to be making public relations blunders as he campaigns to win the support of Hulu Selangor voters in the upcoming by-election.
COMMENT Barisan Nasional candidate P Kamalanathan, a PR manager by profession, seems to be making public relations blunders as he campaigns to win the support of Hulu Selangor voters in the upcoming by-election.
While BN's PR machinery has thrown its weight behind the candidate, Kamalanathan recent statements to the media raise the question whether he can win on his own merit.
His latest interview with Malaysiakini projects the image of a man who seems to have little grasp or opinion on national issues, qualities critical to the duties of a member of parliament once elected.
His replies to questions on the BN's campaign adopting the tactics of personal attacks also betray a candidate who is in the dark on how the coalition is handling his campaign.
The Indian community will be especially interested in how well Kamalanathan will perform if returned.
At present there are no MIC backbenchers in Parliament to raise the issues of concern to the community (MIC's S Subramaniam is a minister, while SK Devamany and M Saravanan are deputy ministers).
Kamalanathan's inability to grapple with current issues does not augur well for his future as a parliamentarian.
He has not addressed any policy issue that he intends to tackle, focusing instead solely on development issues surrounding Hulu Selangor.
If development is the only thing that Hulu Selangor needs, then MIC has already demonstrated failure, therefore it would not have made any difference whether MIC had fielded Palanivel or Kamalanathan.
The question then remains, why vote for Kamalanathan?
On Hindraf and Perkasa
The PR manager has shown little finesse in his campaign, first writing off Hindraf as a
non-factor
.
His comments will not go down well with a community, still harbouring sentimental feelings for the movement that has mellowed since the release of its five key activists from ISA detention.
"He was never part of the movement. We rose for the interest of all Indian Malaysians. We will show him our relevance at the ballot boxes," said a clearly disappointed Hindraf activist, V Ganabatirao, when contacted.
His defence of Perkasa, which is politically expedient with a 53.9 percent Malay voter base in the constituency, will also not endear him to his support base of Indians.
It also puts a strain on MIC's relations with some of the NGOs. For example, A Raja Retinam, leader of the Malaysian Indian Youth Council was furious, and told a Tamil daily yesterday, "MIC representatives have never stood up in the interest of the Indian community."
"He should talk about what plans he has for the Indian community instead of defending Perkasa."
Kamalanathan faces off against PKR's Zaid Ibrahim in the Hulu Selangor by-election on Sunday.
