Flag War!!

After being cooped in the house for the last 4 days or so, I went out with Awi and Haziq this morning to buy breakfast. I was kind of surprised to see the changing landscape along Kerteh town. It has started for a few weeks already and with the general election (GE) coming up, it is expected in this part of the nation. I am referring of course to the flag war. The whole highway is lined up with flags of the three main parties fighting for seats in this Malay heartland, the ruling party at federal level, BN, ruling party in the Terengganu state, PAS and the considerably new party of 5 years, Keadilan. It's kind of exciting and I can't wait for nominations day when the campaign season will begin. It's only 8 days but I don't really care because I can't wait to vote. More on this in later entry.

In addition to flags, some of the parties have used slogans to get across their messages. For instance,

3 Langkah Untuk Pembangunan di Terengganu:
1) Undilah Barisan Nasional
2) Undilah Barisan Nasional
3) Undilah Barisan Nasional.

A few are quite personal as well like saying this one party befriends the devil, swears, lies and does all the 7 Deadly Sins. Personally, I want a more matured debate between all parties. Be rid of all the rhetoric and present issues that matters to the voters. Issues like education, healthcare, corruption, abuse of power, rising crime, infrastructure like better roads and clean water. Do I expect to see them in this GE? Well, looking at the slogans along the streets, I don't expect there to be much. Our politicians don't think us voters are matured enough yet. We still have a long way to go. In the developed countries like the States and UK, you can see that the politicians don't treat the voters like small children. I remember in the UK, all parties including the opposition parties are allowed to airtime on TV and radio to state their manifestos. They could take up page ads in the mainstream newspapers to tell what they plan to do should they win. Representatives from different parties can slug it out in an open forum on the TV debating on a particular issue.

What about us? I don't know if this will happen or not in the near future but it is something which will benefit the country and its people. No emotions, no rhetoric, just plain old school type debate on issues.

And the Excitement Level Goes Up a Notch

MGG Pillai, you're proven wrong again. You said the general election won't be held on the same day as the F1 race. Well, the SPR said to hell with the F1 and decides that Malaysia will go out to vote on that very date, which is in 16 days time, 21st of March. I'm a bit excited this time because it's going to be the first time I'll be voting. I'm registered in Pantai Dalam parliament constituency in Kuala Lumpur so I plan to be there on the morning of 21st March. On the contrary, Awi is registered here in Kerteh so it's quite a situation we're in but we're both adamant to be responsible citizens and cast our votes. So, we'll think of something.

I'm not really keen to reveal my political affiliation but most of friends would know anyway. I was one of the idealistic people born out of the 1998 Anwar Ibrahim episode. I even went to see the man a few days before he was arrested in Bukit Damansara. I've been to a few of Kak Wan's Hari Raya open houses whenever I had the opportunity. I'd readily admit to anyone that my political hero is the Parti Keadilan's Youth Leader, Ezam Md Noor. There was also this one hilarious experience I had with Cu which I don't want to share here for fear of being scolded by Mak. Hehehehe, whatever it is we rocked the house that night, right Cu?

Please don't rush out to admonish me as being ungrateful and so on. I know how the system works and I've had the opportunity to see governments change in the UK without so much of a tremor. I know the country is working fine as it is under the current party but I believe we can be a better country with a stronger opposition inside Parliament and state assemblies. We want a better check and balance on the government. One of the cancer attacking our country now is corruption and it can destroy the country if not put into check. I hope one day the ACA will be independent and seen to be independent by making it report directly to Parliament.

There are so many things I would want which I hope can be achieved if we have a stronger opposition. However, I do know the reality and I'm sure the same parties will return to power except for some changes in seats. It's going to be interesting to see the results coming in on that Sunday night. Can't wait for it to come. :)

2nd Day of Chicken Pox Attack

It is only Day 2 of my chicken pox illness and I'm already almost dead with boredom. Not to mention the ticklish sensation I'm feeling all over my body, especially on the back and face. The pox has appeared in the scores if not hundreds overnight. I know I have a fever but it doesn't feel like the normal feverish cold. I feel tired and sort of 'lenguh' all over. Am brought back my notebook and even though I have the PPA form to fill out, I am just not in the mood to do much about it. Overall, it sure sucks to be sick and I can't wait for this thing to blow over.

One the worst thing about having a highly contaigous illness is that you cannot get too close to other people who don't have it yet. So, it's been about 2 days and half now since I get to hold Haziq in my arms and play with him. People say the virus takes time to develop in your body, perhaps a few weeks, so theoretically, I got the chicken pox virus from someone a few weeks ago. So, Awi & Haziq are most likely to have the virus inside them already. Well, better take some precautions I suppose. Pity the young boy since he just recovered from fever and a bad cough.

Awi also has been wonderful. It's not easy to take care of a baby and at the same time someone who's down with something contagious. I mean, I can't just take care of Haziq while she's in the bathroom or praying. I can just look from afar and make sure Haziq does not play with something dangerous or fall of the bed. I don't know how she does it but then I've come to realise, mothers are one kind of people.

So, off to bed now. Still not feeling on top of the world. Hopefully tomorrow is a better day.

Down with Chicken Pox!!

Can you believe it? I have the chicken pox. I've always known that I haven't contracted this illness since small even though I do remember Mak telling me to hang out around Adiknor & Cu when they were down with chicken pox, many years ago. Somehow, my immune system was so strong at that time, the chicken pox virus didn't have a chance against my antibodies. Hehehe, I never learnt Biology so if the terminology is wrong, cut me some slack okay?

So, I'm off work for the whole week. Really am praying that this chicken pox will blow over by next Monday. You see, we all received an email from the HR manager of the company that wants to take over the IT operations of my current company. They will be handing over the offer letter on the 8th March, which is next Monday. I really want to have a look at the offer because it's hard to make an informed decision about something major as this.

Don't want to dwell to much on that for now. Instead of speculating, lets just wait and see. It's only a few days wait anyway. In the meantime, I have to suffer these pox tickling my body all over. And people say, it's going to get worse. And the situation gets even worse because Awi also hasn't contracted chicken pox before. I do pray that she won't get it yet, if not for sure Haziq will be down with it as well. There goes my plans for the next two weeks or so. Anyway, we just pray and hope for the best, I suppose.