A lawyer chronicles her adventures as a political campaigner for Parti Keadilan Rakyat in the upcoming Hulu-Selangor by-election. On day 5, she goes incognito in Hulu Selangor.
(Day 1): Armour, Shield, & Sword
(Day 4): Restless & Ruminating (LB Note: Link updated 2.00p.m. April 23, 2010)
Day 5: Cruising the sleepy hollow
The flags have now significantly increased, both Pakatan and Barisan flags. The first ceramah I saw was one by DAP – two tents combined with about 50 occupied chairs and about a hundred people there. YB Teng Chang Khim was speaking in Hokkien and the crowd loved his humour.
Wide smiles carved on faces as YB Lim Kit Siang arrives
About 30 motorcyclists rode past the ceramah about twice, with Barisan flags and had distracted the crowd. YB Lim waited for the exhaust noises to subside before brushing them off and continuing with his speech.
There are more Barisan booths that are overflowing with flags, but with just 3-4 people sitting, chatting, and looking relaxed.
I passed by the “Karvinal Rakyat” I mentioned before and it still very brightly lit. Two lines of cars parked at the side of the road and that was at 11.00p.m. Are they having a ball in there?
It was difficult looking for a Barisan ceramah, and when I finally found one it was over. A lady welcomed me warmly when I approached and she invited me to help myself to he light refreshments. She told me to come back the next day and bring my family and friends, “Bawa ayah, mak, adik, abang dan semua kawan-kawan!” She proudly told me that Mukhriz Mahathir will be coming. When I told her I’m not a local, her smile faded but told me to come anyway. (I thought she might have seen through me). Another local proclaimed, “BN best!” and gave the thumbs up and said he thinks Pakatan only has 30% chance of winning this by-election.
YB Teng charming the crowd with his fluent Hokkien and humour
Just around the corner was another DAP ceramah, in a huge hall. It was conducted in Mandarin. Again, the crowd loved the humour and the speaker’s charisma.
The people here seem to love by-elections. They have something to look forward to. Something different from their usual soap operas on TV or the routine gossiping at the market. The people who attended the ceramahs, who would likely to have been asleep at that hour, were all chatting excitedly about the upcoming by-elections. The youths are helping with the flags instead of bumming at a mamak stall and the best part of it is they do look like they’re enjoying themselves doing it for their party.
DAP ceramah in a huge hall
The Chinese shops that would usually be closed at midnight are still open, probably catering for the by-elections. The usually non-existent traffic of Hulu Selangor too has increased with more cars on the roads.
If you have not noticed, locating an opposition ceramah was easier than the Barisan ceramah. Also, the Barisan ceramah had ended earlier than the opposition ceramah. Apart from flags and booths to make their presence known, it does not look like Barisan is doing more than Pakatan.
Could we gather that they are confident in winning? Now, from this little information, can we safely say Pakatan has the Chinese votes in the bag?
I really do hope Hulu Selangorians prove my first impression wrong. Fingers crossed!
LoyarBurok Note: Read more from Eunice at her blog.
Posted on 21 April 2010. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
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