By Zainal Epi

KUALA KUBU BARU: The stage is all set for the big battle – the respective parties have chosen their men and tomorrow they will file their nomination papers.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, PKR's Zaid Ibrahim will meet BN's P Kamalanathan in what could be a bruising fight for the hearts and minds of the Hulu Selangor voters.

Zaid is a non-local but a well-known figure in the political arena at the national level. Kamalanathan, on the other hand, although also a non-local, is born and bred in Rawang, which is near to the Hulu Selangor constituency. Thus, he can claim to be acquainted with the locals there. His only exposure on the national stage is as MIC information chief.

Given the background of the candidates, it is clear that both sides of the political divide are approaching the voters at two different levels when they hit the trail.

BN will trumpet its ability to tackle local problems while PKR will go to town with the message that its candidate will be able to fight for them at the national level.

But beneath the seemingly calm surface, both rival parties face the same problem – resentment towards the chosen candidates.

For BN, the problem seems to be manageable because the respective party leaders are quite capable of disciplining their members.

For PKR, it is a totally different story, given the recent spate of troubles plaguing the party. Distrust, internal politicking, resignations, mutual recriminations, open slanging match seem to be the order of the day in the ranks of the PKR.

When Zaid was picked, many PKR members took offence and many have indicated that they would not be campaigning for him.

If this anger lasts until polling day – April 25 – PKR can say goodbye to the seat.

Even big gun Anwar Ibrahim is not expected to make much of an impact, given his personal problems that have put him in a very tight spot.

By parachuting Zaid into the war zone, it makes it difficult for PKR members to “sell” him to the locals, especially when he is a national figure who speaks more English than Malay.

PKR members were expecting someone who is more down-to-earth to represent the locals, the very people who would be ticking the ballot papers.

Under normal circumstances, the electorate would normally choose someone who can serve them effectively. But Hulu Selangor is not a simple story. Many complications have set in, making it somewhat difficult for the voters to decide who they eventually want as their man in Parliament. Do they want an MP who can articulate only national and international issues or a Yang Berhormat who can alleviate the misery of the local people?

Come April 25, the voters of Hulu Selangor will reveal what role they want their MP to play in the Dewan Rakyat.

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MIC

Sebelum ini, Barisan Nasional dilaporkan menghadapi jalan buntu mencari calon yang sesuai.

Ini kerana MIC mahu timbalan presidennya, Datuk G Palnivel diletakkan sebagai calon tetapi permintaan itu ditolak oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin selaku timbalan pengerusi BN.

Penyokong akar umbi, khususnya dari Umno sejak kematian ahli parlimen Hulu Selangor, Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad pada 25 Mac lalu secara terang-terangan menolak Palanivel.

Sebaliknya, mereka yang menentang Palanivel mencadangkan timbalan ketua pemuda MIC, V Mugilan sebagai gantinya.

Mugilan adalah anak tempatan di Hulu Selangor tetapi pemimpin atasan MIC tidak merestui cadangan itu.

Ini kerana tidak ramai pemimpin atasan MIC memegang jawatan ahli parlimen ataupun ahli dewan undangan negeri dan jika Mugilan menang dia akan mempunyai kelebihan.

Pada mesyuarat tergempar jawatankuasa pusat MIC yang diadakan malam tadi, MIC berkeras mahukan hanya Palanivel sebagai calon mereka.

Mesyuarat itu juga mengambil keputusan untuk memecat timbalan ketua Pemuda MIC, V Mugilan sekiranya dia dipilih sebagai calon BN dalam pilihan raya kecil parlimen Hulu Selangor.

Samy Vellu berjumpa dengan Muhyiddin awal pagi ini di pejabat timbalan perdana menteri di Putrajaya tetapi Muhyiddin dikatakan terus tidak berganjak dan menolak timbalan presiden MIC itu.

Kamalanathan, adalah ketua perhubungan awam Beras Jati Sdn Bhd, sebuah syarikat peruncitan beras.

Beliau dipertanggungjawabkan oleh pemimpin MIC untuk menjenamakan semula parti itu selepas pilihan raya umum 2008 yang keputusannya memalukan mereka

Kamalanathan juga adalah seorang blogger, yang seringkali dijemput menghadiri rancangan ehwal semasa dan juga pensyarah sambilan di sebuah kolej swasta.

Meskipun bukan anak tempatan Hulu Selangor, Kamalanathan menetap di Rawang, sebuah pekan yang tidak jauh dari kawasan pilihan raya itu.