USM Campus Election for 2009/2010.

Prologue: Before I actually start this post, I do not in anyway or explicit related nor affiliated with any of these two faction. In fact, the existence of these two faction in student politic is not just redundant because once all of them are in the same boat, their personal leaning will have to be dissipated for practical, functioning reason with one common goal, but not to mention on how immature and dumb their technique as well as following is. You can say pretty much similar to Malaysian reality. I give a chance for the one in USM simply because this is USM, APEx University. Hence one way or another, my review is gonna be biased anyway cos I dislike both of them ahakz! But sometimes it left you in dismay though when you actually have little or no good choice of candidate at all...so I am still pondering who shall I pick...see first lar! With that aside, lets move on with the main topic!

The election for Student Representative Council of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is around the corner and the polling date is on 15 January 2008 (Thursday) while the nomination day was done on 12 January 2008, Monday. The campaign date for the candidate of course is between the nomination day and polling. And as far as I can see, all candidates are going all out to reach out to the voter, hoping to add in more points to secure the victory. Despite their supposely non-partisan campaign, the underlying current of differing leaning do exist within this campus and their campaign message are very often hinted with their leaning. These two factions are Aspirasi Universiti and Pro-Mahasiswa USM. And here's an analysis of their strength and capacity.

Aspirasi Universiti *link here*

Leaning: Pro-establishment / Pro-university policies with moderate leaning.

Organization: Ok, its a little odd but their organization is either unknown or none. They claim that they represent and/or belong to a higher, common aspiration of the university available sub-consciously in every student of USM and those passionate will be actively advocating their cause or Aspiration.

Affiliated group/student organization within USM: Again, either unknown or none. Most organization took an officially apathetic/neutral stances regarding this but undoubtedly can be influenced more or less by their executive board's leaning. One way or the other again, representing "the higher aspiration of the university"

Alleged/suspected hidden support: From the university and by proxy, the government. *This is just pure suspicion, however*

Pro-Mahasiswa USM *link here*

Leaning: Pro-student / Anti-establishment with progressive and/or radical leaning.

Organization: Complete organization with from Chief liaison to functionaries.

Affiliated group/student organization within university: A tripartite alliance between Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam USM, Persatuan Bahasa Tionghua and Student Progressive Front USM (btw, underground organization.) ...Wait, make it two and a half party alliance because I prefer to classify SPF as an *unofficial* political wing of PBT due to the fact that both group shares quite a number of people in there central committee. I have no idea why it has to be this two and a half group which seemingly too diverse in belief and ideology to be in the same front though. As far as my limited knowledge know, they are still in good term...for now.

Alleged/suspected hidden support: Their former compatriots in opposition parties and politically slanted NGO. *This is just pure suspicion, however*

Current situation: As the nomination day close, Aspirasi have swept at least 19 school constituencies seats uncontested in individual schools across Minden Main campus, Seri Ampangan Engineering campus and Kubang Kerian Medical Campus, including clean sweep over 6 schools over engineering campus. Schools that will see competition are: Communication, Education (hottest ground with the most number of individual school seats, 3), Computer Science, Biology and Industrial Technology over main campus and Medical Science at medical campus.

As for the general constituencies, 6 seats are up for grab and 10 candidates had came forward to compete. Out of 10 of them, 4 are from Pro-mahasiswa and the rest are from Aspirasi. So in a sense, two general seat are already in the hand of Aspirasi even if the other 4 Pro-Mahasiswa candidates win, rounding up the unofficial tally for Aspirasi to 21 seats.

Overall in a sense, the current result is totally one sided toward Aspirasi...even before the actual race starts! The only thing that they can do right now is to secure as much seat as possible now that any chance to actually form a majority government of their own *and creating tsunami as they initially hope for...* is decimated. Personally, I am seeing tough competition over Education seats as well as the obvious general constituencies. Let see how the polling day turn out, tomorrow on Thursday, 15 January 2008...

And for that purpose, USM had declared that all class/tutorial from 9am and 11am tomorrow will be postponed and/or cancelled to make it convenient for all student of USM to cast their votes. So fellow APEx USM-ers, fulfill your duty and your right as a voter by going to the poll in respective hostel and Konkos for non-hostelite student. Vote for candidates which shows credibility, sincerity and hardworks and make the coming Student Representative Council the one that can actually represent the interest of all student across spectrum. Make them work to the fullest that they can do. *since those people are soooooo motivated and bersemangat anyway...(both sarcasticly and literally)*

Electoral rallies in approximately two hours. Expecting gradual degradation of cheering in name-calling, howling and mudslinging. Hope to stand in the middle of the crowd instead of trapped within respective group of supporters. But luckily USM is much more safer and rational (hence quiet...) compared to other universities down south...those guys have much more zealots and flame than us...and thats good. LET THEM BURN AND WE SHALL RAKE THE REST OF THE STUFF. And just as an illustration of the election campaign here in USM, some piccies!

This is the first election flier that I received for this election (before more to come the next day): Sivabalan Perumal aka Siva in Viva. (ROTFL WTF. Catchy though) And seriously, he had the most outrageous election campaign team ever, complete with t-shirts blazing his equally outrageous slogan and his affiliation, Aspirasi. And just now in the evening, a Proton Saga blazened with huge Siva word drives up RST hill and promoting Siva. Looks like he is going ALL THE WAY...

This is the generic black and white election banner allowed in the campaign, informing the electorate about who is running for what type of constituencies as well as polling date...

This unsolicited one however was illegally pasted in toilets and other places. The guy in this picture is Adi Syahid, the chief liaison for Pro-Mahasiswa USM as well as candidates for general constituencies in the coming election. Someone apparently take things into their own matter and decided to join the fray with this low-ended and clearly wrong and illegal sticker. LOL at least unlike me, the guy that made this knows how to use PhotoShop.

And this is ZheRong, your one way or other, cynical and biased self proclaimed commentator of campus election. One way or the other, waiting for the result...