By Niza Shimi
The 15th general election (GE15) is getting a bit weird. It must be what Westerners call cabin fever. According to Medical News Today, cabin fever describes the psychological symptoms that a person may experience when they are confined to their home for extended periods.
After more than two years of being cooped up due to the Covid-19 pandemic and several movement control orders, Malaysians and hopeful candidates for GE15 have let it rip on nomination day with hilarious results.
True to the Malaysian spirit, nomination day was colourful, loud, and a little crazy but with a festive atmosphere. It was all in good fun. Aside from a few isolated incidents of unrest, the process went, thankfully, smoothly.
The strangest incident to me has to be when Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) party president and candidate for Muar being hoisted by two hefty men. Albeit, it was because he was making a speech and wanted to be seen. But the optics, though.
Didn’t he get soft tissue injury when some hefty guy grabbed him by the neck? Hope Syed Saddiq doesn’t fall from his perch. When somebody said that you can see further by standing on the shoulders of giants, I doubt they meant actually that.
Although I was wondering if the spirit of Mat Kilau would appear, I wasn’t expecting the force of Rani Kulup, an independent candidate better known as Ayah (dad). Gobsmacking as it was, he was resplendent in red songket baju Melayu and tanjak. Fashion: 10/10.
Another attention-seeking moment that worked has to be when Pakatan Harapan’s Nurul Izzah Anwar, a candidate for Permatang Pauh turned up with Optimus Prime as a bodyguard. The costume weighing 30 kilograms stole the limelight. Where’s Nurul Izzah?
The sideshow that takes the prize has to be vociferous celebrity Azwan Ali (aka Diva AA) who, after much hoopla, pulled out of contesting at the Gombak constituency where his brother and incumbent Datuk Seri Azmin Ali is defending his seat.
Reason given by Diva AA is that his late mother came to him in his dreams to nag him not to go against his big brother. Indeed, listen to your blessed mother.
Another surprise was an about-turn by Tan Sri Annuar Musa who decided not to contest in Ketereh, Kelantan. Instead, he pledged to remain loyal to the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and back the chosen candidate. No Muafakat Nasional and no Perikatan Nasional in the horizon.
Not such as surprise was Tian Chua (Chua Tian Chang) who defied Pakatan Harapan’s choice of incumbent P Prabakaran to contest in Batu, Kuala Lumpur. This hot seat will see a 10-cornered fight. Who will voters choose?
The Straits Times is spot on in saying the 945 candidates vying for 222 parliamentary seats in multi-cornered fights is a reflection of the fragmented political landscape.
I know GE15 is no laughing matter. So, choose wisely. May the best man/woman win!
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