- March 8 2008, the ‘tsunami' happened, Perak is now under the opposition.
But I didn't get to vote. I was too young, according to our laws. I'm 19, but Malaysian law doesn't allow me to vote
- Three state assembly persons ‘disappear', then reappear as ‘neutrals'.
My friend's sister disappears, but till today, hasn't been found
- Zambry Abdul Kadir is appointed new Perak menteri besar
My teenage neighbour is now a glue-sniffer, as he can't afford ‘proper' drugs. His parents don't suspect a thing; they're too busy with their two jobs
- Toyota Camrys are put up for public auction in Perak
My dad's old Proton is repossessed by the bank, as he's missed a few instalments as his business has been bad the last year
- Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin goes to court to seek a declaration that he is the lawful Perak MB
My dad can't afford a lawyer to advice him on the summons by the bank against his balance of debt after his car is sold.
My dad is unaware that there can be such things as a debt shortfall, what with penalty interest, repossession's fees, lawyer fees and disbursements.
So now he's taken a loan from an Ah Long from the many advertisements he's seen from stickers on public phone booths and calling cards in the mailbox.
- Perak state Speaker V Sivakumar is dragged out from his seat and removed from the Dewan's hall
My dad says he was removed from his driver's seat as his car was repossessed
- Zambry gets a ‘stay order', whatever that means
My dad says his businessman friend still hasn't got a hearing date from the appeals court, even though it's been five years since his appeal against the High Court decision was filed
- BN and Pakatan may work together?
In the meantime, life goes on. Prices are going up, crime is on the rise, parents hardly spend time with their children anymore.
Not many teenagers read the newspapers or watch the TV news about the political developments in our country.
Maybe they don't care? Maybe they know it doesn't make a difference to their lives?
The above is a work of fiction in the sense that it is not about me, personally. But I'm sure it happens to many families in Malaysia, whether in Perak or otherwise.
