Friday, June 17, 2011

General Election 2011 from my perspective..(Part 1)

I haven't updated my blog for almost a month..most people(for example, my Boss Kelvin Fong) would think that after GE 2011, I should be very free..I would have thought so too..but I was really so wrong. In fact, I became more busy than during the GE campaign.
Before I joined WP, I was actively involved in GE as a spectator. This was the 1st time I was so fully involved that i've no opportunity to go check out other opposition's rallies altough I would very much love to..in fact, I even have to give a few WP rallies a miss!
Allow me to bring you thru' the whole process of what I went thru' from right before the GE 2011. When the boundaries were announced,I could start to feel the changes in the pace of things..In fact, in the earlier part of March 2011, suddenly discovered a new back drop at Workers' Party HQ.
Then the pace for walks increased, especially in the locations that WP may possibly contest in..I was happily helping out a Bro who had 'booked' me to help him out for his campaign..
Bendemeer_mkt
One fine day, I was summoned to a secret location in Singapore and given my appointment and introduced to my new team..since I am staying in Moulmein-Kallang GRC, I was appointed as the Principal Election Agent of the team!

Pea
These are my 4 candidates for Moulmein-Kallang GRC..As the PEA, I am attached to the team leader of the M-K team, Mr Rahizan.

Postcard
We started visited homes at such a pace that would put any real estate agent to shame..(ermm...BTW,I am a real estate agent :P)..

Landed_homes
As a matter of fact, I walked so much until i had 2 pairs of jeans ended up like this..
Broken_jeans
We do not know when the queue for rally site actually began at Cantonment Police Complex(seems to me that the aunties queing for PAP knows), but this GE 2011, with a stroke of luck, WP got the 1st position in the queue!
Q
I got to multi-tasked a few roles and got to experience as much as I can imagine what goes on in a political party during the GE campaign. I was also the proposer for my M-K candidates!
Proposer_2
On Nomination Day, I walked with my candidates into our Nomination Centre at SCGS. I was surprised that the few of us walked into a group of media people that outnumbered our team!

Nomination_ctr
After the Nomination was confirmed, I went with the candidates to speak to our supporters present and on national TV.. This was what I saw..
Nomination_umbrella
The WP umbrellas was one of the items brainstormed by Alfred & myself as a youth wing project that did not really get the full scale approval of the CEC, however, thanks to Swee Bee, it got to see the day light of Nomination Day and it helped to shield a number of Singaporeans(be it WP or PAP) from the unforgiving sun. This umbrella immediately became a sold-out item at every rally such that we have to keep ordering from the factory in batches. I almost could not even get my hand on a single piece of umbrella myself if not for a twist of fate(or I should say luck)..I am happy that the umbrella managed to help whoever that is holding them.
I got to see how press interviews can be held in a kopitiam(coffee shop)..

Press_interview
I got to rent and set up/ do up the 'preambulating vehicle'..

Preambulatin
..got to see what the supporters/ sponsors gave..

Flags_blue
Flowers
Supporters_banners
Hammers
We are really grateful to the supporters who turned up suddenly out of no-where and left as suddenly as the finished their job, like this uncle below. He was using a changkul to sharpen the flag poles for the hard Hougang field.

Helper
My Facebook Profile picture was changed to this..

Wp_picbadge

1 comment:

  1. I'm an old retiree and I am glad to learn from your interesting blog. I am proud of you and I also envy you. You see, in my younger days we were strongly discouraged to do what you did; we had seen how our friends being treated like enemies or criminals and may even be haul up after election and thrown in jail. You know all about such treatment in the bad old days right?

    But times have changed and public perception and support for opposition politicians have changed since GE2006 and have dramatically accelerated in this GE2011. I myself have seen how spontaneous the support was from humble folks and unsung heroes from all walks of life for opposition parties and in particular WP. I am sure no money can ever buy your wonderful experience, it's a once in a time time thing.

    Keep up your good work. Your shared journey with your fellow members will only get better and better because it is those who have the conviction and passion will overcome all unfair odds and finally achieve what you set out to do. Good luck!

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