Ijok Elections

Ijok is one of the relatively laidback regions in Selangor. Kinda odd coz Selangor is the most developed state in Malaysia. But as election fever started, there has been many claims to bring about development etc. to the region. Barisan National (BN "National Front") is forking out RM36 million, and there is the usual sudden infrastructure improvements (paved roads, traffic lights...).

I am not seriously into politics but I observe and take note of the trends etc. The only opposition this time is Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR "People's Justice Party"), which was formed by Wan Azizah, wife of former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim. In the past usually Indian candidates were nominated here but PKR decided to nominate a Malay candidate (who was from the region), Khalid Ibrahim, instead. BN is fielding an Indian candidate, Parthiban. This is something fresh as we usually see a certain race against the same race in elections, which I think is fuelling racial politics and segregation etc. Yet, TheStar stated:

"...Barisan has taken a gamble, as a matter of principle, by deciding on an Indian candidate although the constituency has only 28% Indians and the opposition candidate is Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, a Malay.

If voting is based on race instead of a candidate’s policies and credentials, then it would be a sad day for Malaysia.

As we wait to celebrate the country’s national day, the people of Ijok should vote for Parthiban, not because he is an Indian or a Malay, but because he is a Malaysian. Likewise, no one should be voting for Khalid because he is a Malay as it would be a seriously unhealthy political trend..."

Wow... so overt of their political inclination. Oh well... But isn't Khalid a Malaysian as well? I say, vote for who you think can serve you better! Wonder if there will be a day where race does not come into play. I do not want to be taking the paragraph out of context so if you want to read the whole article it is here. You can get alternative news from MalaysiaKini but there is a subscription fee... usually I hear the other side of the news from blogs such as JeffOoi.

There has been a lot of reminders asking eligible people (above 21 years old) to register as voters recently. Nationwide elections should be coming soon... within this year? Time to practice our rights as a citizen. Note to self: Register as voter ASAP.

Post Aero-mati-rial

Ok, it's actually Aerospace Materials. But I liked the way Samuel put it. Lol...

The paper was once again do-able, it would've been more do-able if I could memorise every single detail but of course I couldn't... So what do you in times like this? Crap your way through!! Almost every question also crapped. Then after the exam found out I crapped wrong. Oh well... haha... Was glad that I could solve all those involving calculations but I got one a bit wrong...

Geyao's not happy with how she did for the exam... I can understand how she feels, coz I've been through some exams like that. Sometimes when you enter the exam hall you just go blanko. I hope she can get over that soon coz next up is Thermodynamics which she can definitely score A+ one. She just needs to be more confident of herself (and I should stop chatting with her all the time while we're revising).

2 down, 3 to go... up next: Deutsch!

Post AeroDIE

Alrite, my first paper has come and gone... The much feared Aerodynamics I. It wasn't so hard actually. Rather do-able. A pity I didn't do it faster though... thought I had a lot of time. 15 more minutes and I would've been able to score more points. Nevermind, I'm still hopeful of an A, or at least an A-.

Thanks so much to Geyao who is helping me cope during this exam period. Now I'm much more confident of myself for the exams. But she's a bit too relaxed. Haha... It's not a bad thing lar, but not feeling stressed during the exam time just seems wrong to me. Probably just unnatural. Lol. But she's not a slacker and she'll definitely get A+++ for her subjects = )

Aerospace Materials up next on Monday. I'm rather interested in materials (if I had not come to NTU i would've been studying Material Science in NUS)... So I gotta get an A for Aerospace Materials!!! Let's see how things go on Monday. =P

US Shooting

It's sad that US still allows people to carry arms, even after the horrific events of Columbine High School.

And now this. Virginia Tech.

Apparently one of the recommers is the president of the Malaysian Student's Association there and he had help shelter some students. After reading his depiction of the events, it's really scary to imagine myself in his shoes.

And then this Malaysian newspaper, Harian Metro, putarbelitkan (distorted) his account of the events into something dramatic. People died in this event and yet this newspaper went to blew up the whole thing. Shameful. I'm sure many Recommers will question the newspaper's credibility after this. Oh well, at least the other newspapers got it right.

Anyway it's reassuring to know all the Malaysians there were safe. But my condolences to the families of all those who perished. Heard there was an old Israeli professor who acted as a human shield to help his students.

I pray that this won't happen again...