Monday, February 9, 2009

A brush with the "rival" (not mine)... (2)

The MP and State assemblyman for the area where I live hosted a CNY open-house the other nite. There were posters and banners put up around the housing estate days before the event, held in a community centre.

I went there with the family, chiefly because my eldest loves to watch the lion dance. The turnout was pretty good, although I sensed some disappointment from the crowd who had to wait quite a bit before food was finally served.

I didn't feel out of place although the two wakil rakyat came from the other side of the political fence as that of my boss. After all, I wasn't there in my official capacity. Heck, I am not even a member of any political parties. I was there as a registered voter in the taman and for the fun of it.

Well, ok, if I did feel a bit uncomfortable, it was because I wasn't quite dressed for the occasion. Dressed in tees and shorts, I could see quite a number took the effort to look as if they were going for some wedding dinner reception.

The aunty selling drinks near the low-cost flats had shed her regular tees and jeans for what appeared to be office attire. The party workers wore a corsage as if it were some badge of honour. I was quite surprised to see the hardware shop owner pinned with one. I thought I had seen him in a Rela outfit before. But I knew my newspaperman had always been a party activist even before he inserted propaganda-laced free calendars last year with the dailies he delivered. He was dressed in batik.

Well, that was my first time attending a CNY do for my housing area and I must say it was quite fun, although we were there only for a short while and did not have a chance to savour the food. Would go there again, if they still have it next year. My kids collected ang pow from the assemblyman. Am sure they look forward to doing the same next year. And oh yeah, for the lion dance too.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Angpow! Is that bribery? Haha.
Actually, I noticed many politicians giving out angpows this year; I don't remember that from previous years. Or am I wrong?

kumhor said...

the assemblyman gave RM1 to each of my children. how to be bribery lah? (come to think of it, dap guy gives money to kids of a chap who works for a top BN leader. u gotta love the festives.)

they have been giving in the past -only to kids and the elderly. even my late grandma receive when she went to ali rustam (or was it tun khalil's?) hari raya open house.

i have seen some cheeky kids go up to the VIPs again and again. sometimes, it's quite common for the VIP to ask the kids if they have received. small amount, but adds up to quite a bit if u think about it...

Anonymous said...

It's Umno election year. What do you expect Carol :)