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.