LONDON: When the image of a Baju Melayu-clad Kishva Ambigapathy carrying the royal mace leading the British monarch and her party at the Commonwealth Day celebration at Westminster Abbey last Monday appeared in the media, he immediately became the pride of the nation.
From that historic moment, the Chevening scholar studying global politics at the University of Durham, officially started his role as chairman, the first Asian do so, of the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) for the next two years.
“The chairman of the CYC need not carry the mace, but I was given that opportunity, and I feel that it is a great recognition, not only for me as a Malaysian, but a recognition for young people as a whole in the Commonwealth,” said the 25-year-old engineer who had worked on the Mass Rapid Transit project in Malaysia before venturing into auditin, and, finally, into the world of politics.
Kishva was born in Leceister when both his parents came to do their PhD. Both parents, Professor Ambigapathy Pandian and Professor Shanthi Balraj work at Universiti Sains Malaysia, where Kishva did his engineering degree.
However, it had always been his grandfather, the late Pandian Veerapathiran, a postman in Tanjung Malim, who had inspired him and instilled in him leadership qualities.
Voluntary work runs in his veins as is the thirst for knowledge and adventure.
Networking with visiting ministers from Britain opened doors to him to help in the election campaigns last year for the Liberal Democratic Party.
“I spent two months in Bristol campaigning, canvassing and learning how this party functioned.
“To a certain extent, it gave me a lot of new perspectives and good experience on how to be street savvy, and understand the whole process of political campaigns,” said Kishva.
Things happened fast after he gained a Chevening scholarship to study global politics at the University of Durham — a big shift from his engineering background.
“This gives me a whole different perspective of how the world operates, and I look at how I can contribute to development.”
When he joined the CYC in January last year, little did he realise that he was to run for the post of chairman.
He was nominated by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, and then he found himself speaking to heads of governments at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta, where he was duly elected as chairman.
“This is a big big responsibilty on my shoulders. I am responsible for 1.2 billion youths in the Commonwealth; that is approximately the population of India.
“I hope to be able to raise and voice their concerns to the relevent authorities. People from different regions have different demands and expectations. I need to make sure I live up to theses expectations.”
Moments after the BBC broadcast the Commonwealth Day celebration, it was picked up instantly by Facebook users who noticed the royal mace bearer in Baju Melayu.
“I wear the baju Melayu at most important functions. As I walked carrying the mace, leading the Queen and her party in Westminster Abbey, I was representing the people of Malaysia, thus, I wore the Baju Melayu,” said Kishva.