Election Hangover

Before I say anything else, I want to share a story here first. When I was a student in university in Minnesota, it was in the middle of the election for the governor of the state. There was the usual Democrat and also Republican candidate... and an outsider, a former wrestler Jesse Ventura. I remember it was a heated election between the Democrats and the Republican. Jesse was mostly sidelined by the press, he wasn't even invited to the debates on live television.

Jesse on the other hand when on a road tour in a mobile home. He stopped in every county campaining from that beat up mobile home. He even stopped in my campus and got a rousing welcome from the students. He actively encourage students to vote for him.

The next morning when the results were coming in and it looks almost certain Jesse Ventura had won, I was sitting in my broadcast journalism class and in walked in my lecturer, Mark Mills. Our class wasn't a textbook type of class, instead all we ever did in class was debate current affairs issues. The first thing Mark asked us was who we voted for, most of them said Jesse. Then he said now it feels like we're all recovering from a hangover. It was a fantastic party now we're dealing with the consequences... did we actually voted in a former wrestler?

So what does that story have to do with what's going on right now? Well, I'm looking at the results of the election as its streaming in now over my television and in Malaysiakini. I think this going to worse than 1999 for BN. The opposition already has a very encouraging and strong win. So far, it goes to show that the opposition has won Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and most probably Selangor. The Parliment DAP candidate where I voted, Tony Pua won by a huge majority, 19,000! That's a huge amount. Tony must be estatic.

I look towards tomorrow with trepidation and also full of hope. Trepidation that the opposition so far doesn't have much experience rulling a state before... hope for a more fairer and just society.

My one additional wish is this... a fairer media reporting. I personally think the in-your-face BN propaganda worked against them. All those TV spots and newspaper adds did them in. It just goes to show one being desperate.

I wonder what Tun Dr. Mahathir is thinking right now... what is spinning in his mind. Will he ponder the end of his legacy at Pak Lah's hand? The burning of Rome so to say... and from its ashes so shall rise a new city.

A new dawn is coming.