As we all in Malaysia know, elections will be on the 21st March, with nomination day just 8 days before. The worst part it, it coincides with the F1 finals in Sepang. It is hope that diehard speedsters would make this sacrifice to turn up on the election day instead of going for an event that comes more regularly than that one event that determines your future as a citizen of the country. Though cynics would think otherwise. Working in the same building as one of the biggest print media in this country, it is easy for one to be caught up in the elections fever, as one sees reporters and journalists scurrying around like scared rabbits. For visitors to Malaysia, or outside people who might be interested in understanding more about what is going, log on to www.malaysiakini.com, www.jeffooi.com, www.thestar.com.my, http://www.malaysia.net/aliran/, http://www.nstp.com.my/ , and a elections watch website, Mafrel.

Many Malaysians stuck abroad would not have a chance to vote, as postal voting for civilians have been cancelled this time round. I think it should only be fair that elections dates be fixed months, or even a year in advance, to allow fellow citizens time to plan their itinerary. Perhaps we should call for a memorandum on this. It is also only fair that everyone be given more time to campaign and it is time to relook into EC and the Elections Act. Btw, if anyone has the soft copies of all these various acts pertaining to the Elections and the Elections committee, I would be most grateful to get it so that I could upload it to the website for closer scrutiny.

After the elections, I will spend more time updating the other parts of my website. I know that there are some broken links which I will try to amend before I do the updates.

Also, a call to all of you Malaysians out there. If you would like to see a particular candidate win in your area, or any areas (Even if it is not your area), why not volunteer to campaign and to be voting agent? Easiest of doing so is to scrutinise the webpages of the various people that you know are planning to run (and who would be nominated), find their contacts, and volunteer your services to them or their assistants. Michael Moore made the same call to the American citizens in his book "Dude, Where is My country?" (my review for it will hopefully come out in this Sunday Star, in Starmag, its pullout supplement).

Enjoy the rest of the weeks leading to the elections, And keep your eyes peeled.

P.S. Isn't this year an interesting year? We have the Malaysian elections, Indonesian Elections, Phillipines elections, also the one going on the the US of A near year end. Since we have so many elections going on, you might want to find out more about them at www.electionworld.org and http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/election.htm.

How well do elections uphold democracy? How much knowledge the voter has when exercising his or her rights at the ballot box? Various studies have been conducted into this. Including in Malaysia. I will post them up as I find them.