Nomination Day

"If we want any change to happen at all, we are the ones who must make it happen."

That's what I've been thinking all this while since I started helping out in Sim Tze Tzin's for Malaysia campaign.

Yesterday was Nomination Day. I've had many firsts, but this is the first time I'm actually taking part in the Election as a registered voter and playing a small part to help out in shaping a better tomorrow for Malaysia. Nomination for Bayan Baru (Parliament), Pantai Jerejak (State), Batu Uban (State) and Batu Maung (State) candidates was held at PISA at 9-10am. We went there to show our support and solidarity for Sim Tze Tzin and KeADILan.

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By 7.30am, the police had already blocked the road to PISA. So, the four of us parked at Sunway Tunas and walked there. When we arrived at PISA, we were already late, yet we couldn't see any of our KeADILan marchers. However, we saw a huge troupe of BN supporters marching towards us! Decked out in our "I LOVE PG, I LOVE KEADILAN" t-shirts, honestly, we were a bit scared of being trampled to death. :P Luckily Leo realised we were being on the wrong side of PISA! So we hurried a big round to the other end to join our friends. Being late, Nicholas couldn't really "function" as Sim's bodyguard. :P


KeADILan troupe

Candidates - Raveen for DUN Batu Uban (green batik) and
Sim for DUN Pantai Jerejak (blue batik)

Dato' Zahrain for Parliament Bayan Baru

Nomination at Penang International Sports Arena (PISA)


The nomination period lasts for one hour, from 9-10am. After that, the nomination forms will be pasted on the walls for people from both parties to scrutinise.

How to fill in the nomination papers is very important because both parties will try to "pick a bone out from the egg" from the candidate's information. Some cases happened yesterday that almost resulted or have resulted in disqualification of the candidates, eg. Rafidah almost got penalised because she forgot to sign her name on 2 nomination forms, and one BN candidate is actually bankrupt! (Actually the form is very simple-looking, I cannot imagine what's so hard to fill up about that form! Forgot to sign kononnya!! Aduh!)

The pencadang and seconder must be voters in that constituency, and every detail must be followed according to their IC. Honorary titles like Datuk, PJK, are disallowed on the form. The pencadang and seconder are very important too and they would usually overnight at the candidates house to avoid any abrupt "disappearances" on the nomination day!

Every now and then, the Election Commission people would blare out updates on the nomination and objection proceedings on the loudspeakers.


Don't cross the police line!


We were standing on this side while the BN supporters were on the far side of the photo! It was seen that the police in the other side were bermesra-mesra with them, while here the police looked stricter. :-S I felt a bit scared if I were to suddenly lose my foot and fell over the police line... later get beaten up by those huge batons...

Actually I'm just joking, it was a very peaceful morning where nothing untoward happened. :-) Both camps were very disciplined and didn't shout and jeer... except for one moment when the EC announced Encik Ooi... instead of Puan Ooi... (booooo!)


Winds of change?

We even found some time to paktoh there... :P

Public ceramah by DSAI

That was not all, after Nomination ended at 12 noon, I went around for some leafleting at Kg. Bahagia at 5.30pm and went to listen to Anwar's ceramah at 9.30pm opposite Vistana Hotel.

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Some thoughts:

Talk is cheap if you don't take action to help out actively. I always hear some people complaining or commenting about the lack of political sense in other people/ complaining how this country is going down the drain. But when I approach them for volunteer help, they always sneer at me or give some silly reactions like "Why don't you go and help BN? They give RM50!" or "Ha? You help KeADILan ah?! Got money or not?"

Actually, voting is only the most fundamental thing that we can do as a citizen. If we wish for a better future, and hope for change, we have to take it on our ownselves to do it. If not, who's going to do it if everyone just sits back and waits for others to take on the job? In this few weeks, I am greatly touched to have met many passionate, helpful people who have stepped up to volunteered themselves and drove all the way up from KL for this campaign.

If you are really too busy to help out, at least, be more considerate and intelligent by giving some moral encouragement to your friends who do help out. And not by uttering stupid and worthless remarks. Thanks.

Comments

Yeah...booo those complainers who just complain and don't go to vote at the end of the day...
They will be part of the ones who will keep complaining for the rest of their lives...

Add oil together !!!
**Btw...u are the one who caused me late and can't "Function" as Sim's bodyguard !!!!**

**Pssssttttt****
OrangieMe said…
heh... there are some who are even worse.. they said BN is good enough. The worst people are those who doesn't care about politic. When i asked:" u know who is Pak Lah", they said:"Hah?"
家勤 said…
你们都很有心!!

我下个星期也会飞回登嘉楼投票哦!
向否决三分二的议席迈进!yeah!
Anonymous said…
I learnt something today: The worst thing in decision making is not making a decision because if no decison is make you don't know whether you are right or wrong. No decision mean no progress!!!

What I am trying to say here is : If the opposition need to win, there need to have to be over 2/3, the worst scenario is neither the coalition or the opposition get 2/3, then no one can making a decision for the country whether it is wrong or right, at the end of the day the country will be status quo for another term whereas our neighbour will continue to progress and we will let behind because no one can make decision for the country ( none of them have 2/3 decisive vote in the parliment!!).

If you want to give a mandate let it be a decisive one!!!
Anonymous said…
I learnt something today: The worst thing in decision making is not making a decision because if no decison is make you don't know whether you are right or wrong. No decision mean no progress!!!

What I am trying to say here is : If the opposition need to win, there need to have to be over 2/3, the worst scenario is neither the coalition or the opposition get 2/3, then no one can making a decision for the country whether it is wrong or right, at the end of the day the country will be status quo for another term whereas our neighbour will continue to progress and we will let behind because no one can make decision for the country ( none of them have 2/3 decisive vote in the parliment!!).

If you want to give a mandate let it be a decisive one!!!
Xweing said…
I never thought of it that way yet, thanks for the brainstorm, Anonymous!

Really, what happens if nobody wins neither way?!?
leonardlcy said…
Correct me if I'm wrong. All government decisions can be made with a simple majority no matter how much it is being opposed. So, not giving a big mandate does not mean an inability for the ruling government to make a decision, it just means there are more eyes watching over the governmetn's every move. The reason we need to deny the ruling government (be it Barisan Nasinal or Barisan Rakyat) 2/3 mejority is to prevetn them from making anymore changes to our constitution (currently I think there are more then 100+ ammendments/desecration to this cherished document, including extending the term of the current EC chairman). This is one of the only things which the government cannot do with a simple majority. Deny ANY ruling government 2/3 majority!

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