of promises and by-elections !

Ahhhhh....the clarion call for another "by-election" is here again ! How many of you have actually been involved or participated at run-ups to a by-election ? From attending the many fiery ceremahs in god forsaken and remote corners of the affected constituency to the final count on the polling day itself ?

There is a certain air of uncertainty, celebration and a fresh surge of adrenaline triggering erratic suspense every time you attend one, whether it is a ceremah for or against your personal beliefs and choice !

Yes, one thing is for sure....that is IF you are an "impartial attendee" (wearing NO party colors or taking no obvious stand !) at these ceremah's or campaign trials....everyone is very pleasant and friendly to you ! People ( mostly from local officials or members who passionately don a certain party color...whatever their political affiliations are) go out of their way to reach out and greet you and make you part of their entourage as you move in herd-unison closer to the stage to listen to their aspiring and wannabe politicians beating the shit out and giving the low-down scandals and misdeeds of their opponents and declaring promises upon promises of/for change amid bearing "goodies" and up-grading of entire public amenities......if only you would cast your vote in their favor, yes ??

Everybody you meet, irrespective of race or religion, throws away that you that suspicious "racist" look we are so accustomed with and will embrace you with open arms ! Some will even try to pin their party buttons or hand you a party flag for you to parade with and readily invite or offer you seats and drinks too ! How nice if only people could be like that every day of our lives ! Sigh.....!

Then comes the actual polling day and if you walked around the polling stations, you suddenly see the stark change of behaviour and mentality....all the eager friendly faces you saw in the last few days of campaigning suddenly bear a fierce and rowdy rivalry as banner-carrying and loud-hailing supporters face each other off, from across the roads. Chanting party slogans and cursing and jeering at every vehicle that is draped in the opponents color that passes by !
I have even seen some over-zealous supporters in a mad frenzy, kicking at moving vehicles in disgust to provoke a retaliation from the occupants of the vehicles and ending in "eye-ball to eye-ball" stand-offs until the guys in blue come to break them up and restore order (not necessarily all the time) ! It rattles your brain if only you could see what the out-come would have been otherwise......hmmmm !!

That folks is the incomprehensible "orgasmic" atmosphere of by-elections and I've always enjoyed being right there in the thick of the action and I'm now missing it as is in Manik Uria, Kelantan ! Sighhhhh !

Perhaps...what if I could just .......???