Saturday, 08 March 2008

A date to mark one of the significant points in my adult life – the very first time I am exercising my voting rights as a Malaysian.

The date would have been sooner if I was allowed to vote in the last election in 2004. However, I was informed then that I could not vote because apparently, I registered late thus my name was not in the name list.

When it was announced that elections would be held on the 8^th of March 2008, campaigning began. It started slowly, gradually with this person, that person saying this and that.
But two weeks to the date, campaigning was in full force and how can you tell?
By just looking around.
There was a sudden burst of flags, banners, buntings, pennants at every nook and corner.

It was war of the flags.

It felt like a carnival - who can put more, who can put higher, who is more creative in making some sort of shape or arrangement using flags and pennants...

Sheesh, these people are defacing public amenities. Not to mention the mess that will be left behind.

While I was in Australia, I managed to witness an election there. No such thing as flying flags of any party. Campaigning was done in such an orderly manner. Every contesting party had airtime over the TV and radio, and printed media to convey their messages. Advertisements on TV were replaced with short clips of each parties’ leaders promising this and that and at the same time, taunting, mocking and even bluntly insulting the other parties’ manifestos. It was hilarious and fun!

To me, the media must be apolitical, much like the armed forces, to deliver unbiased views, promises and even lies untainted direct to the general public.

Come Saturday morning, I was up early. Actually, I could hardly wake up that morning but I had to. I wanted to get it over and done with.

I dread the thought of trying to park the car with all the crowd and the long queue in the heat.

7.45am I was at the school already.

7.55am I was queuing. I was 4^th in line. Weather was cool after the rain the night before and overcast. Perfect weather to be out.

Voting was supposed to start at 8.00am and in true Malaysian fashion, they allowed the first three person into the classroom at 8.10am.

Less than a minute later, I walked into the classroom, IC at the ready.
Upon checking my name, one orange-coloured ballot (for Parliamentary seat) and one mustard-coloured ballot (for State seat) were torn from a booklet and handed to me.
Behind a paper booth I went and with the provided pencil, marked one X for each, folded the papers, and dropped them into two transparent plastic boxes for the different seats, placed in the middle of the classroom.
It took less than 3 minutes all in all.

8.20am I was back home and back into bed!

And the results are:

Parliamentary Seats

State Seats

In a map:

BN lost five states to the PKR-DAP-PAS coalition.

Being in Selangor, I was startled by the results.
I did not expect Selangor to fall to the alternative party. I thought BN would have won, marginally though.
But lose and with such a huge margin?! Tsk tsk tsk…

I am anxiously waiting in anticipation to witness how the new ruling state governments will bring change to their respective states. I am thrilled and at the same time apprehensive of their ability to deliver to everyone’s expectations, to deliver what they promised.

Winning is one thing, a huge thing no doubt, but delivering is another thing, a daunting thing and to me, the most important thing.

Yes, we needed change but with no experience ruling, I wonder how the PKR-DAP-PAS coalition are going to work together with their clearly different ideologies.

It is going to be an interesting, good or bad, 4-5 years to come.

Sunday morning with the election results out, Selangor/KL felt quiet to me.
I just felt as if everyone was slumped in their chairs, in disbelieve of what had just happened not 24 hours ago.

Or could it be the lull before the storm?

Oh well...

Que sera sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera sera