A Meaningful Birthday

Our birthdays is fixed. However, events which occur on our birthday can make it more meaningful as well.

The 14th general election was held on 9th May 2018, on my 53rd birthday. As citizens, me and my family members voted in a number of constituencies; Gombak, Wangsa Maju and Kajang.

When the results started to trickle in that evening, a different trend started to emerge compared to last elections. Eventually, around 4.30am on 10 May 2018, the Election Commission officially announced that Pakatan Harapan, led by the former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, managed to secure a simple majority in the Malaysian Parliament.

The focus then was on the appointment of the Prime Minister. Although the former Prime Minister, Dato Sri Najib Abdul Razak, acknowledged the results in his press conference in the morning, he did not concede and congratulate the opposite side.

After some drama, eventually Tun Dr. Mahathir was sworn in as the 7th Prime Minister around 10pm on the 10th of May.

For those who had decide to choose a fresh set of people to lead the country, they would be waiting for Pakatan Harapan to fulfil its election promises. Certainly not all of those promises would be fulfil in the short term but the people would expect the 100 day promises to be delivered just as promised, within 100 days.

A nation is not only built by those in leadership and administration but citizens, like you and me, have our roles to play. We can't just wait for whatever that we wish to happen, we have to make it happen through our efforts and contributions.

While what happened on my birthday this year was not planned, my birthday this year was certainly very meaningful.