8:40 pm, KLCC , 28 degrees Celcius
I'd like to think that I am a machine and could go on forever, but I am absolutely drained after today's excursions.
A.M.
Running on 3 hours of sleep and an assortment of plane-travel related ailments (eg. jetlag, neck soreness and fatigue), I didn't think I could have made it very far with my weary strides to the bathroom for my early morning shower. All of that began to change as I suited up to go to Parliament Building for the first time.
Nothing beats a good 'mamak' breakfast. 'Mamak' is Malaysian terminology for Indian Muslims, often synonymous with affordable yet extremely palatable fanfare. I had iced Milo, roti telur and roti bawang, think naan bread except considerably tastier thanks to the ghee (butter) used.
My uncle gave me a ride to Parlimen via Kesas highway and a turn from the Mahameru Freeway brought us to the building. I was given a security clearance pass and frankly, I didn't know where to go. I stumbled around the concourse, walking into all sorts of media personnel and MPs. What struck me was the opulence of the building and how composed everyone was - it was business as usual and it stayed that way for the rest of the day. So, I meandered around and eventually found my way to the public viewing gallery, not after stumbling into and sitting in spacious, comfortable lounges, only to find that they were exclusively for MPs later on.
Allow me to make several observations: first, most MPs smoke. The innumerable smoking rooms in one floor alone testifies to that fact. Second, the ethnic composition within Parliament is intriguing but quite expected - it is Malay dominated and the Chinese are mostly journalists running around trying to get new scoops. I overheard them having a partisan argument once so I thought that was interesting. What is more, most newspapers here are owned by political parties so 'free press' is not realized here.
I'm getting ahead of myself. After staying for 10 minutes of Question Period, I made several inquiries to find Mr. Liew Chin Tong, the MP I was supposed to meet with. Few minutes later, I took the elevator in the adjacent office tower to floor 13, where the Opposition offices were. A chat with the secretaries there made me realize how ominous it was to have that floor number allotted to you.
Noon.
Mr Liew finally arrived. Felt quite privileged to say the least, made me feel quite at home, and it was inspiring to engage in thoughtful discussion with your political representative. It felt democratic. We had a holistic conversation covering the political landscape of Malaysia and the historical underpinnings of its current problems. More on that in another comprehensive and largely political post. For now, I would like to focus on the synergies that developed because of that one hour-long meeting.
I feel that this tumultuous political road with no end in sight is the path for me. I feel as if I should not shirk from the challenges that await me in my very own country and home. Okay, more on that in another blog post. Anyway, I was offered an internship with the Democratic Action Party should I feel ever so inclined as to return to Malaysia for the long haul. I don't consider that to be a far-fetched idea. Not one bit.
Late Afternoon + Night
Continued observing Parliamentary session, nothing really interesting except for an MP browsing facebook. Went to KLCC, started this post at a cafe but ending it now in Shah Alam. A crab dinner with satay, chicken and beer in between, leaving me stuffed as I type this on my stomach.
OH, and picture me walking around in a suit in 30 degree celcius heat. I was sweating profusely during some points, so I frequented the washroom quite a bit to freshen up.
Good night for now, some shopping to follow tomorrow.
I'd like to think that I am a machine and could go on forever, but I am absolutely drained after today's excursions.
A.M.
Running on 3 hours of sleep and an assortment of plane-travel related ailments (eg. jetlag, neck soreness and fatigue), I didn't think I could have made it very far with my weary strides to the bathroom for my early morning shower. All of that began to change as I suited up to go to Parliament Building for the first time.
Nothing beats a good 'mamak' breakfast. 'Mamak' is Malaysian terminology for Indian Muslims, often synonymous with affordable yet extremely palatable fanfare. I had iced Milo, roti telur and roti bawang, think naan bread except considerably tastier thanks to the ghee (butter) used.
My uncle gave me a ride to Parlimen via Kesas highway and a turn from the Mahameru Freeway brought us to the building. I was given a security clearance pass and frankly, I didn't know where to go. I stumbled around the concourse, walking into all sorts of media personnel and MPs. What struck me was the opulence of the building and how composed everyone was - it was business as usual and it stayed that way for the rest of the day. So, I meandered around and eventually found my way to the public viewing gallery, not after stumbling into and sitting in spacious, comfortable lounges, only to find that they were exclusively for MPs later on.
Allow me to make several observations: first, most MPs smoke. The innumerable smoking rooms in one floor alone testifies to that fact. Second, the ethnic composition within Parliament is intriguing but quite expected - it is Malay dominated and the Chinese are mostly journalists running around trying to get new scoops. I overheard them having a partisan argument once so I thought that was interesting. What is more, most newspapers here are owned by political parties so 'free press' is not realized here.
I'm getting ahead of myself. After staying for 10 minutes of Question Period, I made several inquiries to find Mr. Liew Chin Tong, the MP I was supposed to meet with. Few minutes later, I took the elevator in the adjacent office tower to floor 13, where the Opposition offices were. A chat with the secretaries there made me realize how ominous it was to have that floor number allotted to you.
Noon.
Mr Liew finally arrived. Felt quite privileged to say the least, made me feel quite at home, and it was inspiring to engage in thoughtful discussion with your political representative. It felt democratic. We had a holistic conversation covering the political landscape of Malaysia and the historical underpinnings of its current problems. More on that in another comprehensive and largely political post. For now, I would like to focus on the synergies that developed because of that one hour-long meeting.
I feel that this tumultuous political road with no end in sight is the path for me. I feel as if I should not shirk from the challenges that await me in my very own country and home. Okay, more on that in another blog post. Anyway, I was offered an internship with the Democratic Action Party should I feel ever so inclined as to return to Malaysia for the long haul. I don't consider that to be a far-fetched idea. Not one bit.
Late Afternoon + Night
Continued observing Parliamentary session, nothing really interesting except for an MP browsing facebook. Went to KLCC, started this post at a cafe but ending it now in Shah Alam. A crab dinner with satay, chicken and beer in between, leaving me stuffed as I type this on my stomach.
OH, and picture me walking around in a suit in 30 degree celcius heat. I was sweating profusely during some points, so I frequented the washroom quite a bit to freshen up.
Good night for now, some shopping to follow tomorrow.
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