COMMENT When he was a young boy, I was Kamalanathan's tuition master and he was an obedient and sharp student. He is no Kamal, Alan, Than, or Nathan... nice try at linguistic acrobatics Mr Deputy Prime Minister.

We just called him ‘Appu’.

It's somewhat of a miracle, and perhaps even shocking, to see how last week's events threw Appu into the spotlight for the Hulu Selangor by-election next Sunday. And along with it, opening radical new possibilities.

mic info chief interview 18092009 p kamalanathan His father, a laboratory technician at APMC, the then name for the cement factory in Rawang, is as humble as they come.

They were our neighbours and Appu ( left ) draws most of his emotional strength from his mum, a strong and staunch believer in true human values when it came to raising children.

Appu's dad, Uncle Panchanathan, has been an MIC diehard for half-a-century, and sometimes ridiculed for being so...

But the God-loving family trudged on admirably, selflessly holding no grudge.

I hope this 'rise' of Appu into the serious political arena does not evaporate after next Sunday because he is eloquent, likeable and definitely a next generation leader. With a smile broad enough to match our home minister!

As far as the by-election goes, both candidates - Zaid Ibrahim and Appu - are good.

No ifs, no buts

Unfortunately Appu comes with excess MIC baggage coupled with his subservient nature, a fault beyond his default role. He has many bosses to answer and may not be able to provide true commitment to his constituents, with songkok or otherwise.

On the other hand, Zaid has walked the talk. He will not promise if he cannot deliver and his word is as good as the man.

NONE A true philanthropist, he will not mince his words when it comes to doing the right thing. A true statesman of our time.

Anyway back to Appu's happy accident, his is a dilemma that may seem beyond repair. In a classic case of putting the cart before the horse, Appu's debut is a conversation in reverse.

To reset, I believe Appu ( with better-half S Shobana above ) should be the next MIC president. No ifs, no buts. With that correction in place, MIC can finally move somewhere, hopefully forward.

They need a new beginning now. And not romanticise Appu as a return of the prodigal son. He is not MIC hubris. Watch this man.

Kamalanathan is destined to become MIC president!

Advertising man HARMANDAR SINGH or better known as HAM says he write likes hell and sings like heaven. He has lived in Rawang since the age of 14 when it was still a town in Hulu Selangor. Adoi!