Part of history in Malaysia's elections

Shocked. Awed. Disbelief. Unimaginable.

And still am. I guess the whole nation feels the same. More so for the election candidates.

We followed with eagerness on the results of the polls by Sat 10pm, and by then, calls and rumors were already spreading on how the oppositions were gaining victories in mostly every hot seats.

I went to sleep on early Sun morning 12am as to tuck the children to sleep. Hubby, at don't-know-what-time climbed on to bed and told me, in my half awakened state, that BN lost Penang, Kedah, Selangor and Perak to the oppositions. I thought it must be rumors la.. how can that be?? And I went back to sleep.

At about 6am, I woke up and got the children to pee, 2nd son was already showing a patch of wetness in his pants. Then after, I log on to the internet and checked on the electoral news. It's confirmed by then that what was told by hubby in my dream was true. Shocking indeed, ain't so?

We drove home on Friday evening to cast our votes, since we didn't care to change our residence address. The weather during our journey was kinda weird. It rained cats and dogs in the beginning part, then shining hot in the middle, and rained very heavily again when we were close to the highway exit. I wonder if that was any omen for things that are coming. I have a feeling it was. For better or for worse, noone would know. But one thing for sure, many want a change. And the people's voice is heard, let the oppositions a chance to do that, since the current government wasn't going to deliver that.

It's so simple. For me, as a mother, I would want to see security in our very own home. But this very basic and important need is not met, where I'm staying has numerous break-ins like nobody's business to these buggers. Little girls missing, that is the most brutal news ever to any mother. Who to be blamed for the lack of security? Surely it's the government. If they can't do anything to put things right for us, then they should be taught a lesson.

Of course, there are other issues more than that which are so damaging to our society and nation. I guess everyone know what they are. But simple women like me with simple wishes only, is living each day with worrying thoughts of the children's and my own safety, one can imagine how many people in this nation are truly worried. Hence, the results of the 2008 general elections!

Before the elections, on the day we drove home, we reached just in time to attend a family dinner gathering at Tai Thong. That night, what was talked about over dinner were only politics and politics. Gosh!

Then, we headed to the DAP ceramah at the Jalan Kampar, Tow Boo Keong temple roundabout just in time to witness the arrival of Fong Po Kuan, dubbed cilipadi, and Lim Kit Siang.


We were told there were more than 10,000 people at that time, can't compare that to the mighty 60,000 turnout in Penang, but still, no doubt, was an amazing event. The Kampar road traffic was stopped at a halt, I suppose all Ipohites never saw that kind of thing before happening in this old-folks-home-city. What was the traffic police doing, not blocking off the road and divert traffic to another route, we don't know. Buses and trailers were passing the road with people just standing by inches from them.


We heard Po Kuan spoke. Her voice was obviously hoarse, understandably from the countless campaigning and talks she went to the whole campaigning weeks. Must really salute her.

Then came Kit Siang. He said the sign of panic by BN was shown. Never before in history, an ad came 1 day before the elections by the PM saying either we, chinese, wants our voice to be heard or our ethnic to be represented in the Cabinet. The people-mountain-people-sea gave a resounding NO when he asked if we want to be threatened this way. I believe these kind of ads even irked the voters more than ever. Especially when the expenditures of these ads come from taxpayers' pockets.



Election Day

This was my voting venue. My very own hometown, where I grew up in. But that's not my alma mater. Funny why my parents didn't send me and my siblings to this school so close to home.

I went in to vote at about 3+, since I am told that it's better to cast the vote after 2pm. It was speedy fast, no long queues or whatsoever. I just need to check which is the voting room I ought to go to from any of these desks. And good, they are using computers to check my info, unlike the last time where it's only pen and paper.

It's only about less than 5 mins in and out, that was it. I wanted to take pictures of the ballot boxes and spend some time in there, you know, just to savor the moment, but no, it seemed pretty uncomfortable to have all the eyes staring at me.


My hubby at the almost last hour, registered to be a votes-counting watching brief rep (whatever that is called). Registration was so fast and easy, briefing, Q&A, sumpah with the Commissioner of Oath, all kautim within 30 mins time. And he was told to return to the allocated classroom before 5pm, so to ensure the counting of the votes is fair and square.

I would have registered to become a rep too, since they needed another 20 odd people, but unfortunately I was wearing shorts, which is not allowed. So, I could only hear the story from my hubby.

He said it used to be, all ballot boxes are sealed at 5pm sharp when election closes, and these ballot boxes were transported to a counting center. But this time round, policy had changed.

At 5pm, all classrooms were closed, every class has 2 reps of BN and oppositions respectively to witness the counting of the votes. If there's only 1 rep, you may object to opening the 2 boxes (state and parlimen) at the same time. (That was the question my hubby posed during the briefing earlier)

Firstly, they count how many voters came to vote. Then they count how many ballot papers were given out. Simple maths would tell them the number of ballot papers there should be in the boxes and 2 parties reps agreed and signed.

So then after, when it's agreed upon, they open up the boxes and start to count that the ballot papers tally with the number. If it's less, then that's ok, since there might be some who decide not to vote and take it home. If it's more, then something would be wrong somewhere and ALL ballot papers need to be checked in the box.

So far so good. Everything went fine at his site. They start to distribute the ballots. Each ballot paper was held up, and declared it's DAP or BN vote. If there's no objection from any reps, then that would go to the respective party.

Hubby must have had a great time, for he just can't stop telling everyone how excited it was when the ballot papers were held up. It was truly an exciting and heart-stopping moment of truth. It was all over within less than an hour, since both boxes were opened and counted at the same time. Next was of course, reporting to the various party center, and we hang in there for awhile anticipating eagerly for the first wave of results streaming in. It was a joyful moment for everyone in there, since reports clearly showing who was leading. And the rest was history.

Now we would only wish BN would buck up, do something good for the people, stop uttering ridiculous rubbish and sexist remarks and calling people names, and the opposition parties would prove that they not only talk, they can deliver too. Coming news would be so interesting to see. Let's wish for the dark clouds to be cleared and blue sunny days ahead of us.