You can now check where your polling centres are.

Key in your IC number into this website and hit enter.

Your details will be shown to you in just seconds.

I was very impressed when I came across this website to check my registration as a voter. It was so systematic and efficient! Definitely exceeded my expectations.

If only Malaysia can persevere with this attitude of winning elections into its daily life, Malaysia would be a leading country in the world in no time.

Malaysia has the brains, the natural resources, the land, free from natural calamities, the diversity that gels Malaysians together, the untapped potential - just like an unpolished gem. All these resources have obviously been grossly under-utilised, wasted or lost.

Malaysia is like a rich man’s kid, who just while its days away living off the parents while some other countries are like a poor man’s kid, who has to slog to survive.

Probably something need to happen for this rich man’s kid to wake up and learn the lesson of life. To realise that how fortunate it has been and how it has been taking the blissful life it has for granted.

It is time to wake up from the slumber and face life with eyes wide open. Appreciate the good things and keep improving - that’s the spirit most Malaysians will want to see and experience.

One of the most interesting, exciting and unpredictable Malaysian general election is here. There are hopes of renewal, with injection of fresh blood into the stagnant pool of leaders. There are hopes of change, with the opposition becoming stronger with their passionate fight for their voice to be heard.

Just like how Barrack Obama captured the hearts of Americans with his ‘Change’ manifesto, the opposition, especially DAP, is also adopting a similar approach. Similarly, the ruling party Barisan Nasional, is also injecting hopes to capture the hearts of the masses, by fielding new faces in its line-up of candidates. 

Change and renewal for a better life. Bread and butter issues are undoubtedly still the main issues in the minds of most Malaysians. Daily survival issues are still what matters most, amidst the rising living cost and the more competitive and increasingly globalised economy.

These are the hot buttons of the people which both the ruling party and opposition know very well. And they do know very well how to utilise these to win votes. 

Who will you be voting this time? Are you voting for change or are you voting for renewal? Are they the same or are they not?

Whoever you vote, whether based on party or based on the calibre of individual candidates, make your precious one vote a worthy one. This is the only time you get for your voice to be heard. Even though it is just a small little vote, but it can make a difference. Wherever you are, make the effort to exercise your right. Whether you are overseas or in the country, spread the election fever and make some noise!

I know there are many Malaysians who have been caught in this sudden announcement of Parliament dissolution. I know they intend to vote, but not registered to do so. It is too late to do so now because the gazetted electoral is already out on Feb 5.

Read how a Malaysian student studying abroad went through the hassle to ensure that she can cast that ballot. 
Exercising your right to vote as a student abroad

Let’s make this general election the most democratic as can be! Think logically and sensibly before you cast your precious ballot!

I woke up groggy and bolted out of the house for an appointment in a jiffy. But all that came to naught. The other person canceled the appointment and didn’t inform me. My immediate response in my head was “Great! Let’s go back to sleep..” hahaha

The other person was so surprised at my reaction. I guess she might have thought I would get all worked up and angry at her for flying me aeroplane (fong fei kei). I was somehow glad too, despite the effort to drag myself out of bed in the morning.

So I decided to write something instead, on a post I read on Malaysia’s opposition party DAP president, Lim Kit Siang’s blog. It is an email written by a Malaysian who is abroad and was voicing his heartfelt sentiments to Mr Lim, which was then posted on Mr Lim’s blog.

Interesting read, just don’t get too worked up.

ps: link has been removed

I can’t agree more with this article from NSTP (see below), after a flurry of reports in the mainstream media and blogs about race relations in Malaysia, fueled by strong-language speeches by Umno delegates during the party’s recent general assembly in Nov.

I’m saddened everyday when I read reports of Malay and Chinese leaders bickering over race issues, be it from the ruling party or from the opposition party.

Meanwhile, the Indian leaders yelp out once in a while to attract attention to the plight of the Indians, who equally need attention.

With deeper analysis of the situation, the race relation issue boils down to one thing - lack of trust.

This lack of trust among races, where in this case, Dr Chandra Muzaffar, said different races should start helping each other, such as the Chinese Chamber of Commerce could help the Malays and Indians in the retail sector.

Meanwhile, Malays should understand the need for the Chinese and Indians to get an equal footing in the country they have come to recognise as their own.

If, the Chinese could be big-hearted and help out the Malays and Indians, will the Malays and Indians appreciate this kindness, or will it be like this Malay idiom, “Melepaskan anjing tersepit?”

I personally felt that there’s fear among a certain race - fear of change, fear of competition, fear of everything, which stops them from starting to believe that they can also grow together with the other races, rather than trying to survive by just guarding their special privileges jealously.

In the end, it is only going to be a lose-lose situation for all races.

The certain race will never realise they can be as developed as other race or compete on a level ground with other races. And the other race will continue to mind their own business.

In the end, the one to lose out, is Malaysia.

The race relation issue is never going to end, if the certain race do not change their mindset, as what Tun Dr Mahathir has always nagged about.

And instead of fighting against each other, Malaysians should instead unite to fight the looming globalisation that will swallow Malaysia if Malaysians still do not wake up from their narrow-mindedness.

In this borderless world, for a race to survive, it is no longer just me and my race. It is to look at the big picture - if you want to survive, your country have to survive. When the country can survive, and not only that, are able to bring in bigger pieces of pie, then only we can happily distribute the pie equally to satisfy all races.

However, what’s saddening is, Malaysians are not growing this pie, and there’s not enough to go around, and races start to fight among each other to get a bigger piece or, just to defend whatever that’s left.

Rather than stealing from each other, why not all unite together to get bigger pieces of pie from outside the country? No Malaysians would like to see such bickerings in the country - unless of course, those who are using race as their pawn to get political support. And such people, are a disgrace to the country.

______________

‘Bridge-builders’ to span races needed
08 Dec 2006, New Straits Times
Minderjeet Kaur

KUALA LUMPUR: We need genuine “bridge builders” to improve ethnic relations in the country. People who can span the racial divide and encourage integration.

Most Malaysians were still very much Malay, Chinese or Indian at heart, said International Movement for Just World president Dr Chandra Muzaffar.

“To improve racial integration we have to be Malaysians first,” he said.

He was speaking during a dialogue on The Role of Media and Human Rights organised by The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) yesterday.

He said that instead of reaching out, each community was looking to its own interests.

“There is a huge psychological gap between the Malays and non-Malays.

“Everyone is asking for their own rights, but no one is really coming forward to assist other races,” Chandra said.

If each community helped the others with their own strengths, he said, the gap between them would be narrowed.

“For instance, the Chinese Chambers of Commerce could establish a nationwide programme to help the Malays and Indians in the retail industry,” he said.

The Malay community must also understand the concerns of the non-Malays. Non-Malay families have been here for generations. They feel they are Malaysian, and that they should be on an equal footing, he said.

Anyone, he said, who criticises others should recognise his own weaknesses.

“If each of us can look at our own weakness, we can then understand the other race better. But if one feels that one is right and the weakness lies in the other race, then no one is going to go forward,” he said.

“Politicians should understand that the Malay, Chinese and Indians do not have similarities that bind us together. Each have their own culture, religion and traditions.

“And by blowing up racial sentiments, they are making things difficult for Malaysians,” he said. Politicians should rather find ways to unite the three races by promoting integration, he added.

Universiti Malaya History Department head Professor Datuk Khoo Kay Khim agreed that Malaysians tend to identify themselves with their race.

“They prefer to think of themselves as a Malay, Chinese or Indian, because those who fight for the cause of another race are seen as not being faithful to their own,” he said.

Oh yes! finally I found the video online!

The first time I saw this national day advertisement by Petronas on TV3, I was struck by the message that it wants to convey. The meaning finally dawned on me after my mind went blank for a while. Oh my… What struck me most is the strength of the message that it wants to convey. It will hit people direct at their heart, esp Malaysians. Especially Malaysians with the same condition… well I shall not state too deliberately here what condition is that in case I got sued. haha… Well… siapa yang makan cili, dia yang terasa pedasnya.

My experiement on a Malaysian and a Singaporean colleague proved interesting. After I’ve pointed out the advertisement to them and explained the meaning of the narration, my colleague, who is a Malaysian went ahh….(got it!) while my Singaporean colleague wasn’t so sure what it means.

I’m not trying to see who is smarter here; it is more because we Malaysians shared the same background, the same ‘culture’ and almost the same kind of ‘upbringing’, with about the same sentiments, if we are of the same condition. This common understanding enabled us to instantly know the deeper meaning of the advertisement.

I would want to tell the whole story of the commercial here, but it will spoil the suspense for you. So I shall keep the suspense and let you watch it for yourself.

Catch this meaningful commercial here Petronas National Day TVAd and feel free to share your feelings about it.

*Disclaimer: Comments in reply to the post posted here are not the personal opinions of the owner of this blog.

**Oh wow! really have to thank my colleague for pointing out to me where to get this commercial. Been searching for it online but can’t find it, not even on YouTube.com. Initially wanted to post the video clip here for all to enjoy.

*** Happy 49th National Day my dear Country Malaysia! I will be flying the national flag in my room hehehehe Dunno what trouble public display of patriotism for my country in a foreign country would cause me…:)

Anyway, by spreading this little message of patriotism to my fellow countrymen is also a way of showing my love for the country~ So, you too can make a difference, spread the message of love to your friends and family. Refer them here!

The news about the passing on of the Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s wife, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood early this morning hit me like a sack of potatoes. It was so sudden. I thought that she would be able to fight it.

News about her receiving Abraxene treatment in Los Angeles has been on the papers for some time, and she has been a cancer awareness advocate herself. Never did I thought that the statement by doctors saying she is recovering albeit slowly and advised PM or fondly known as Pak Lah to spend more time with her, could be a clue that something might not be so right.

During the period she was back from overseas chemotheraphy treatment to celebrate Ramadhan at home, Pak Lah has been missing for about a week and when he was asked about it, he said he has been breaking fast with her, who is also fondly known as Kak Endon.

Her passing on will be a great loss to Pak Lah and the whole nation. As the whole country grieves and mourns the death of a warm, loving, motherly, caring figure in the eyes of the citizens, her contributions and memories of her will remain alive in our memories.

As I watched the tv footage of her funeral and burial ceremony, I saw so many people lining up to pay their last respect. A politician even died on his way to Putrajaya to pay his last respect when his car skidded. When I did a google blog search, I was touched by the hundreds of blog entries paying tribute to her. TV3 aired a special programme after the news bulletin while there’s a special pictures tribute on the News Straits Times website.

Even though I do not really know her personally, I can feel the love exuding from her, especially in her relationship with her husband. If you observe closely any television footages of them together, Pak Lah will always be holding her hand, just like love birds who are deeply in love.

One of a close friend of hers said this on one of the most widely watched television station TV3 that she is a model of a perfect wife and mother, someone she would model after when it comes to relationships.

I would agree with her. As Pak Lah loves her very much and been loyal to her, she has been strong and supportive of her husband. Behind every successful man, there’s a woman. How true is this saying.

Lessons we can draw from this is that, we too can be a role model in our own lives. We can also touch lives as what Kak Endon has done. What we need, is just a loving heart and a caring nature. And I believe, everyone has that in them by nature.

As for couples, we can model after the strong devotion that Pak Lah and Kak Endon has for each other. Tips I gathered from news are that they tell each other they love each other very often and would unabashedly show affection publicly, like holding hands and hugging each other. Considering that they are a public figure, their public display of affection not only warms the heart of people seeing it; it must have also meant true love.

I find it truly inspiring and heart-warming.