Voting Day. How it all happened

p/s : The event below takes place on 8th March 2008 at 7.35am.

I woke up to the sound of Everything by Michael Buble at 7.35 am. That was my ring tone. My dad called me to open the door and proclaimed that he was outside minus the blaring trumpets that only pompous people will use.
I was still in my pajamas when I answered and true enough, I still didn’t get up to the alarm that I set at 7.30 am. Well, life goes on. Moving on, I washed up. Got into a tracksuit and I was geared to go.

My dad and I left the house at 7.48 am and we started trekking the dangerous and hazardous road that lay ahead of us. Of course there weren’t many cars on the road as many people were busy snoring their asses off since it being a Saturday. Who on earth would want to wake up so bloody early to go and vote and relinquish the comfort of our beds? After all, yesterday was a Friday and Friday nights meant clubbing and drinking for clubbers. For others, it was just another day to chill at the local mamak stall and sip tea and watch wrestling (WWE) on Astro® late into the night.

So we walked and walked and crossed many dangerous rivers that were swimming with high-speed piranhas ready to lock their tight jaws. There was also something weird I noticed; these piranhas had four wheels and made noises engine ‘like noises. :D
So, after much treading and waddling, we finally reached the polling station. As we entered the arena, two heavyweights were side by side. The left side was keADILan and on the right was BN. There weren’t many staff there except for a few handling the booth. Outside the school, the gates were closed and there were police personnel standing by the gate. When we went to line up, I estimated about maybe 10-15 people in front of me. Some were in their exercise attire and some looked like they just came back from the salon with heavily dabbed make-up on their puffy cheeks. They don’t even know how funny they look with that amount of “clowny” make-up. Haha. I couldn’t help but smirk to myself.

The gates then opened and we swarmed in. Everyone just lost it. No one bothered to adhere to the line and everything just ran amok. We’re Malaysians remember? So then my dad asked me what my “saluran” was. I checked and it said 5. So we asked a police personnel standing there and he directed me to the building on my right on the first floor. My dad went to Saluran 2 which was just as we enter. So I treaded alone like a maniac, running when there was no need to. I overtook a lady in blue and grinned. I reached the stairs then there were some people that I suppose were helping out the SPR. Best part was they wore bright, gaudy yellow. Eww, it really did kill my mood for the day. Or maybe they were trying to catch the morning sun drift.
So I hiked the stairs up and started looking around. I saw Saluran 3 + 4 but no 5. Pretty disappointed. Then this dude appeared in front carrying some files. I asked him and he said follow him. So I did. We went up and up and saw nothing. Topmost still nothing. Only then when we went down one floor I saw Saluran 5. It was at the far end of the first floor. I did it! I thanked the guy and boy I really wanted to kick his ass!

So I sped up; passing people line up at Saluran 3. Up ahead, I saw three obedient voters lining up. First up was this Chinese guy, a little skinny, second in line was this Malay lady in her 30’s and directly in front of me was a Malay guy. After I fell in line, three voters suddenly appeared behind me. Two Chinese girls and a Chinese boy. There was a police personnel stationed there, his name was Kadir. Nice dude but spoke with a deep bass as though we were all prisoners. Then it started; the culling started. The first Chinese guy went in and gave his IC to the SPR committee stationed at the table. They comprised of three Malay ladies in 3 different coloured headscarves. Blue, purple and yellow. The lady in blue called his serial number, IC number and name aloud. Within that quiet atmosphere her voice boomed like a cheap exzos pipe. So he moved on and cast his vote in. Done.

Second came and went and next was Third. Then my turn came. I was shivering. Kadir told me “masuk” with that deep bass and without any eye contact. I obeyed and gave the SPR committee my relevant items like IC. She used a ruler and skimmed my name. When she found it, she boomed my name. She stuttered at my last name, Tzong. Unsure of how to pronounce and not wanting to offend me, she attempted and got it right the second time. Kudos Kak! Once done, she motioned to the lady in the purple and simultaneously tore a slip akin to a lottery ticket and gave it to me. It was dull orange. So I graciously took it and said my thanks. Moving on to the next booth, I bent low so as not to allow them to peek at me. On the ticket it was imprinted the candidate’s names, party logo and an empty box at the end. I took the pencil there and made an X. I was a nervous wreck and my X was small. Damn. Want to redo but shy. What if they catch me for playing a fool? So many thoughts swirling my mind. So I just went on. Once done, I cast my vote (my first vote!!!!woo hoo!!!) into the ballot box. Then shit happened. Instead of exiting the real exit, I exited the way I came in.

I was locked in an eye battle with the floor when I left. I saw nothing until I came to the entrance. No one said anything but Kadir looked up and he was shocked. I just turned heel and walked away. Phew…

So, the adrenaline was still pumping and I was short of breath. Why? I have not the slightest idea. With that done, I went home feeling like the wisest man.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES WHEN VOTING. EXIT WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO.
:D