Playing a Role
Most of us have been talking about the election and issues that have been affecting us. However, I realised that what we have done so far has been to talk only. Hence, when Dato Lee asked us to help, Frank and myself, felt that it would be good for us to support a friend and at the same time... be involved. We were to be coordinators for the polling center during the polling day - seems easy.
Most of the volunteers are from the churches around Subang Jaya and Sunway. There are a few churches that are outside of the township that just wanted to help. In fact, Dato Lee received tremendous support for various Christian groups, judging from the initial meeting that was organized in late Feb.
When we asked David Loo (election agent) as to why Dato Lee engaged the churches to be observers during the polling day, instead of those "paid agents" - David's answer was just plain simple - "Dato Lee can count on you guys to be there and be committed to complete the task". I am really proud of that comment.
The Action Begins
Initially, I thought that organizing election was just "chicken feet". Little did I realise that it is actually a rather complicated matter. They have to look at the ceramah, crowd control, food and drink, electricity, posters and etc...
Frank and myself began the task of mobilizing the members for about 35 polling centers, which will need about 240 members. All our volunteers are just that - volunteers. I thought it was quite simple - with my experience working in MNC the last 20 years... It wasn't that easy, coupled with the fact that they are just volunteers. We then enlisted Frank's eldest son - Jeng Chee, who was a tremendous help to us.
In the midst of all the action, Jeng Xian (Frank youngest son) was admitted to SJMC at the ICU for virus infection of the brain. Suddenly, we have other more urgent matters other than the election... Ah Xian, (as Jeng Xian was known to us), was particularly close to us. We were in a spot. I shared Ah Xian's situation to a few leaders of the volunteers (such as Mdm Lau Guat Hoon, Chu Seng Wah, Pastor Moses and Ong Hock Siew), their immediate reaction was - let's pray for him. Pray we did, individually and with all the volunteers.
Then I received a call from Dato Lee exactly 1 week before the election - in the call he asked if I could handle the entire coordination on my own!! This will allow Frank to focus completely on Xian - with his thoughtfulness, I could not say no.
The next 1 week was really hectic. I could not let 2 person down - Dato Lee with his election in a week's time and Frank, with Xian in ICU. On the surface I acted cool - I guess, that is how I normally am at work - even though I am peddling like mad below the water!! With 2 days to go, we were 95% ready. The other 5% is to convince some people to go over to Seri Setia @ Kg Medan and Kg Lindungan - which seem tougher than I thought. With God's grace, we were at 100% 1 day before the election.
The Election Day
It started off rather uneventful. All observers were at their centers on time @ 7:30 am. As mentioned by David Loo earlier - these guys are committed. We passed the 10 am mark, then 12 pm, and then, we were almost closing at 5 pm... We begin to monitor deployment for the counting process - other than a few minor confusion, most centers were taken care of by our observers. My initial thought were for the entire process to be completed by 7 pm, at the latest - a bit ambitious, on my part - also, due to my inexperience...
I was at the SMK USJ 12 to have a first hand look at the counting. I was excited. This time around, the counting was done at the room ie. each saluran. What followed was really shocking for me... There seem to be more "crosses" for Loh Gwo Burne and Hannah than for Dato Lee and Mdm Ong. In my heart, I knew that there will be a swing but what I saw that evening was not a swing - it was more like a pendulum moving the other direction. My heart was pounding faster and I was literally stunt.
I thought that was probably due to the residents there. I then decided to check out other centers. I drove to SK SS14 to have another look. What I saw at USJ 12 wasn't a unique situation - it was probably a trend. A major trend. I stayed until the counting was over at SS14 - then I felt that Dato Lee had probably lost the election.
It looks to me that everyone is just very angry with the BN government and it was nationwide.
Back at the service center, the mood was sombre and I can see Dato Lee feeling dejected. Su Su (Dato's wife) was there , too. I empathized for them. They have put in their heart and soul the last 12 years, and yet the voters "rejected" them. Granted that Dato Lee is not perfect - almost everyone that I met said that this man has done a lot for Subang Jaya... maybe not enough.
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