Slightly beyond Midway.

-Personal Observations on Malaysia's 13th General Election-

With the official campaign period went past the half way point since the nomination day (Saturday 20 April 2013), it's expected the campaign will intensify for this whole week reaching crescendo at the very last moment before the actual polling day itself for the most hotly contested general election Malaysia have ever seen on Sunday 5 May 2013. With the decision day approaching closer than ever, all aspirants for the access of power are pulling all arsenals together to garner every single vote of electorates possible by dishing out countless pledges, promises and goodies as well as aiming the musket against each other with all sorts of tactics and strategies (of course with varying degree of dirt) keeping each other at bay.

As for us the voters, we (especially the first time voters) are busy keeping ourselves abreast with news, manifestos and all sorts of information from variety of channels and sources while occasionally contributing ourselves to the flow of information through the powerful medium of social media and word of mouth (which may or may not include getting down and dirty with muchracking too). Above all else of course is to get ourselves acquainted with the voting process itself in which for the first time featured indelible ink to prevent repeated voting as well as functioning as a badge of pride of participating in a momentous national event through painted left index finger.

As for me who is hiding comfortably in the island of tranquility amidst the tsunami of campaigning, I ventured out of the bubble of campus perimeter wall directly into the reality just to keep tap of what's happening within the vicinity.

While campaign flag is a common fixture in any election as a mark of presence and power (efficacy of gaining undecided voters remains questionable however),  the density of one particular culprit (oh you know, the ONE symbol that I loathes vehemently because of its utter ubiquity) over Jalan Sungai Dua area is just TOO MUCH effectively forming a wall of curtain capable of blocking line of sights especially at bus stop making spotting arriving bus even more challenging. I am very much tempted to remove some of them but I am not brave enough to tempt fate as they're cases of public beaten up by campaign workers (which apparently formed mostly of gangsters and druggies) and they might just jump out from the bush and beat me to pulp as soon as I touches one.

Anyway as a form of public service/commentary, here's a fairly shallow overview of who's who aspiring to be the local MP and Assemblyman for the area around campus which falls within P52 Bayan Baru and N35 Batu Uban.

Extra large picture for extra emphasis on parliamentary seat. Sim Tze Tzin (Pakatan Rakyat-PKR), outgoing state assemblyman for N36 Pantai Jerejak has been given a promotion to retain P52 Bayan Baru within PKR's grasp (because the outgoing MP is a turncoat) and will be facing a direct challenge by Tang Heap Seng (Barisan Nasional - MCA). In my layman point of view,  I think PKR's candidate poster format is so much more aesthetically pleasing compared to their challenger in terms of the composition of visual and textual element (that additional red as placeholder for name is a nice touch), the reassuring pose by the candidate as well as a moving slogan properly highlighted for emphasis. As for BN one? Meh because of the ubiquitous slogan on top.

As for N35 Batu Uban State Assembly/DUN Seat, a five corner fight will be happening with Dr. T. Jayabalan being tasked to retain the seat for PR-PKR (the incumbent has been replaced I think) while fending off the other challengers namely Goh Kheng Sneah of BN - Gerakan and a motley of three independent candidates namely Mohd Noor Sirajajudeen Mohd Abdul Kader (using the symbol of book), Baratharajan a/l Narayanansamy Pilai (key) and (not featured in this collage because he's simply non-existent for my camera to capture) Rajendra Ammasi (bunga raya/hibiscus). While PKR is using similar visual cue, the banner for BN-Gerakan actually shows some effort has been made the banner more appealing in terms of usage of colours and emphasis as well as picture that deviate from usual mortuary picture. As for the independent candidates, we can actually gauge the state of their campaign coffer with Mohd Noor (book) making reasonable effort to find proper graphic artist, Baratharajan (key) just barely have enough money to create a basic one while Rajendra (bunga raya) probably has spent all available savings on campaign deposit which might have a high chance of losing it. While there's no certainly on how much the independent candidates will work as a spoiler for the key two candidates, voters in N35 Batu Uban will be spoilt for choices.

That's all for now for my personal observation of GE13 with regards to P52 Bayan Baru and N35 Batu Uban because of its vicinity to USM. If you are interested of numbers and information regarding this election,  drop by Election Commission/Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya's GE13/PRU13 result site for detailed statistics as well as live update from 222 vote counting centers across Malaysia on 5 May itself.

Let's hope that whatever the verdict is going to be on Sunday 5 May-Monday 6 May midnight, we will be emerging in a metaphorical new dawn as Malaysia and Malaysian take another step forward in achieving a truly matured, first world democracy and work productively hand-in-hand not just for the next five years but continuously and eternally.

Oh last but not least for me:

There is...a sudden improvement of circumstances in my part which finally allows me to go home to Kuching and play my role as a constructive citizen in the society by voting for the first time in my adult life. This is particular symbolic since I missed out my previous chance of voting in 2011 Sarawak State Election (good thing for Sarawakian to vote once every two years) and this will be my chance to experience the improved voting procedure! I am coming back for your, P196 Stampin. I will try to be the first in front of polling station as it opens on 8am sharp which just so happens located at my primary school then go to breakfast!

Epilogue: There's something else that went slightly beyond midway that's my thesis. Still got much writing to do not to mention haven't even started writing my paper for the upcoming conference and yet I have been slowing down again after the mid-April rush of fear. Need more fuel to fire up the engine again.