PETALING JAYA, May 10 ― After hours of waiting for the 14th general election's official results, Malaysians voting for change ushered in a new era in the country’s political history.
Khairul Azhar Rosli, 31 from Subang took his two small children for a celebratory drive around the neighbourhood followed by breakfast.
Malay Mail spotted him driving around with a Pakatan Harapan flag flying from his car.
Like many Malaysians, the advertising company owner said he slept at 4.30am as he waited patiently for the official election results.
“Tonight, we are going to have a barbecue party with the rest of our family, it will also a nice pre-Ramadan celebration ― everyone is overjoyed.”
His wife voted in her hometown in Pahang while Khairul voted in Kuala Selangor.
“Something has happened to this country that most of us either hoped or expected ― in the beginning, I wasn’t confident the Opposition would win but voters played their part and declared any suspicious activity at ballot centres and the rakyat banded together,” he said.
Khairul added that things can only be better from now on and the work ahead for the new coalition is to right the wrongs of the previous government.
“Let’s start with a clean start. At the end of the day, this is for our children and their future. I hope there are positive changes in the next five years.”
“My children keep asking me ‘What are we winning?’ So when my wife comes back later, we are going to explain to the children what today means for them,” said Khairul.
After casting her vote at a polling centre in Old Klang Road yesterday, retiree Madam Yong, 80 was glued to her television screen for the results.
“It was too late to stay up and my back started to hurt so first thing this morning, I went to get today’s newspaper,” she said, clutching a copy of Sin Chew Daily.
“As long as the new coalition is not greedy like its predecessor, we are off to a good start,” she said.
On her way to work this morning, 33-year-old supervisor Sylvagna Yapp who voted in Semporna, Sabah also believed that change was crucial for the country to move forward.
“We need change, that is the goal,” she said.
While on his routine morning paper run with his dog Midnight, Wong Chong Shien, 67 who lives in Bandar Sunway was all smiles when Malay Mail approached him.
“I’m very happy with the results. We need change because there is just too much corruption on so many levels.”
“I didn’t celebrate ― it’s pure logic that our government should be a better government,” said Wong.
