If you were up and about in the Klang Valley this weekend, you'd be forgiven if you thought it happened to be Youth Week. The young were in the driving seat in at least four initiatives, proving to the dour cynic that there is indeed a beating heart with a bebop beat so strong you'll just want to catch on to it.

EPIC, a volunteer youth organisation, embarked on a soft launch of Voice Your Choice - the 2 million nationwide voter registration drive. The launch took place simultaneously at three suburban malls - e@Curve, Amcorp, and Subang Parade - and in that weekend, the self-funded group managed to register 1,021 citizens.

It is grunt work, but since the Election Commission isn't about to entertain auto-registration, these fine young people have decided to fill in that gap. There is no glamour in this, as the volunteers will be the first to tell you.

"Rejection is something we all must be conditioned to face, as not letting it get us down was a small challenge," reports their website.

Good job and keep plugging at it, people. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia is with you all the way.

Saturday at the e@Curve itself, students from the SEGI College's PR course hosted Malaysian-LAH, a program to "define the essence of a true Malaysian". Malaysian Idol Danell Lee and local band An Honest Mistake did guest performances but for us at SABM, it was the panel discussion which won the show.

The impish Sharifah Amani just has a way of making you chuckle. Even when she's ripping on the elements which are shredding the fabric of this nation. "Can't they see we get along so well, despite all their plans to keep us apart?"

To the question about the role of celebrities in uniting the population, Jojo Struys believes that doing the right thing goes a long way. And doing the right thing doesn't necessarily mean the official-sanctioned way.

He may be from the mainstream media, but Irwan calls on the rakyat to be constantly critical. Everyone plays a part, he says.

As for playing your part, Pete Teo provides a clue: "You have to do the things you enjoy, are good at. Only then can you be most relevant. There's no point in trying to emulate a certain celebrity - you'll never be as good. Be yourself."

Pete Teo would have the chance to expound on his ideas further at the Malaysia Forum event at the Rumah Anak Bangsa Malaysia (home of SABM) on Sunday. We're saving pictures of him for that entry.

Comedian Andrew Netto stressed that being Malaysian is to live in many colours: "Look at you all out there," he told the crowd "I don't see one shade. We like mixture, different food, different music, cultures."

That same evening, Frinjan let loose over at the Dataran Shah Alam with its theme Peri-bumi which promised to "membawakan persembahan dari kaum yang dijajah dan juga penjajah".

Anyone here with pictures to share from Frinjan X? Send them over.

Sunday, we saw discourse that took place across national boundaries. Ah, the wonders of internet - you just can't stop it. Malaysia Forum, a group of young Malaysians who primarily got together while studying overseas, hosted Harapan, a conference held at Columbia University, New York. A webcast from KL was beamed worldwide focusing on two key topics. You can read about it here.

If this weekend had to prove anything, it is that the young are well and alive here. They will take charge - are capable of taking charge - and they will do it with a conscientious spirit, something so missing in the corridors of jaded adults today. May this spirit ripple forth.

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waipun |2010-04-06 16:05:53 :angry: I read the Register to Vote article on Niahmah by Patrick Teo which said the event would take place Sat & su from 10am till 10pm. I was working Sunday from 11am till 9pm at 1Utama. As I didn't want to miss it so I begged my manager/boss to excuse me from work with an early relief. I arrived at Amcorp Mall at 08:23pm. I paid my parking. I walked into the Mall. I walked the entire Ground Floor, the entire basement where Giant Supermarket is, I walked the entire 1st Floor and even approached the Information desk, and I could find any counter or bunting for Register to Vote. My intention was simple, I wanted to Register to Vote for just. But you people failed me. It must be a prank. How dare you guys be so cruel! I was so PISSED!

SAJ |2010-04-06 23:54:22 :cheer: I understand your frustration. I believe the EPIC people were short-changed by the AmCorp management as their booth was pushed to a "corner" on the 2nd Floor. You can still register at any computerised Post office. It only takes 10 minutes. Take Heart...the country needs U as a registered voter. Best wishes

ng kok hoe  - Mr |2010-04-06 16:08:39 :cheer: you guys rock.. we are one, we are malaysian. daniel

Toh May Fook  - tmf |2010-04-06 16:33:19 Wow, dear Sharifah, our dearest late Yasmin would be so proud of you!

Voter-get-Voters |2010-04-06 16:43:51 I have decided to start my OWN Citizen initiative to creat awareness on a " Voter-get-Voters" campaign. I decided to print a 3 inch diameter and a rectangular glossy finished sticker with the following slogan VOTER -get-VOTERS Its NOW or NEVER for a BETTER Malaysia You can stick this stickers onto car back windscreen, read bumper, bike,helmets, bag,T-shirt,cap,computer, or even beer bottles or cigarete packing during social gatherings or activities whereby it can be a topic of conversation. In fact this sticker can be stick on anywhere you prefer..anywhere except public facilities. I take no responsibility if you guys stick on public places such as bus stops,lifts,shopping centers etc etc where the traffic flow is greatest as we are not operating as "BIG Ear Hole" read Tai Yee Loong read Loan sharks. I shall sent to any readers who are keen to help me spread this message across the whole of Malaysia by normal post.And the good news is it is FREE of CHARGE. I be sending you all about 5 stickers each or more if requested by you subject to availibilty.All you have to do is to send me your postal address ,your prefer nickname and quantity required to: voter-get-voters@hotmail.com . Upon receiving this stickers I hope you ALL can get at least 1 new ( D more D merrier) voter and keep them well informed. Who they vote is non of our business. We are 'working' on the behalf of EC since they are also encouraging ALL Malaysians to do their patriotic duty by registering and voting in ALL elections. Ps: If this pilot project received a favourable response I shall proceed with buttons, proper car stickers and eventually T shirts

Fu qihua |2010-04-07 07:57:00 :cheer: I am so happy to see the colours of the audience in the photograph. I wonder why on earth the government is trying its best to separate the colours. The mix is so beautiful.

the Razzler  - the Razzler |2010-04-07 13:44:14 Cheers.. we are so proud of all of you! :cheer:

anak malaysia |2010-04-10 17:03:07 :cheer: i am so touched that this is happening. Yes, our country have hopes despite the BN-led gov trying to divide us.

migsyd  - Hotline setup Re RPK advice. |2010-04-10 21:09:18 It will be great if you guys can help to setup hotlines,as suggsted by RPK in MT today 10/4/10 re Hulu Selangor election and ALL other elction and the GE. Great 'work experience for the young volunteers as well to coordinate - good for their resume. Set up hotline centres. Re RPK’s strategies Civil society movements, political activists, societies/associations, Bloggers, and even private citizens, can get together to organise the setting up of hotline centres. These hotline centres can be manned 24-7 or during ‘office hours’ only (say 8.00am to 10.00pm). The purpose of these hotline centres is to organise transportation and to assist voters who do not have transportation but wish to return to Hulu Selangor to vote on Polling Day. The hotline centre phone numbers can be broadcasted through the Internet and via SMS/e-mail so that voters will know where/who they can phone about their location in Malaysia (or Singapore). The hotline centres can then maintain a database of outstation voters who need transportation to return to Hulu Selangor to vote. Those who are offering transportation to ferry the voters back to Hulu Selangor can, in turn, also phone the hotline centres to indicate which part of Malaysia (or Singapore) they are located and how many voters they are able to ferry. Malaysians living in Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, Terennganu, Pahang, Perak, Johor, Singapore, etc., who wish to assist in the by-election effort by offering transportation services for voters who wish to return to Hulu Selangor on Polling Day will also be entered into the database. They will then be matched with the voters in their area. If you own a car and are able to drive three or four voters home to Hulu Selangor that would be good enough. 100 cars each from Penang, Alor Setar, Taiping, Ipoh, Johor Bharu, Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Singapore, etc., could mean an additional 1,000 voters. Those who do not own cars or are not able to drive to Hulu Selangor on Polling Day can arrange chartered buses to ferry these voters. Ten or twenty buses from each major town North and South of Hulu Selangor, added to the private cars, can easily ferry the 30% voters living and working outside Hulu Selangor. You can get together with a few other friends and share the cost of the chartered buses. You then phone the hotline centres and tell them that you have a bus available, what time it is leaving on Polling Day (for example 6.00am, Komtar Penang), etc. The hotline centres will then phone the voters in their database who live around that area to inform them of the availability of these buses. Can we start by getting a few volunteers who are prepared to help set up and man these hotline centres? Once that is done, send us your phone numbers so that they can be broadcasted far and wide. Next, those who are offering transportation can also contact these hotline centres with the necessary details.

migsyd  - EPIC/Bangkit/SABM to setup hotline? Great support. |2010-04-12 13:04:55 written by Better My, April 11, 2010 20:31:17 in MT Hotline setups, Re RPK Hotline recommendation EPIC, good at getting volunteers doing the work for them, like the recent registration exercises at shopping malls, is ideally suited to do this hotline co-ordination work for Hulu Selangor AND ALL OTHER FUTURE ELECTIONS AND THE NEXT GE. Bangkit,the young ones too. Indvidual organised car transport to the ballot is one-off exercise, whereas, this can be done again and again, for ALL elections. Transport providers, in any electorate, ring into Trasnport Hotline to give their services availability during an election. Those that needs transport are matched with providers by hotline/simple databse system. Some basic checks are done by hotline people, like My Kad validity info, etc. (Of course, if a potential scum person wants free transport to vote BN, then the person is placed right at the bottom of the pile or striked off) I tell you where EPIC or/and Bangkit/SABM will benefit: 1) The young volunteers get to do some great work, learn to be disciplined, feel good about doing something good. The work will look exceptionally good on their resume with good references from the EPIC/Bangkit management. If I were an employer, these kind of great volunteers initiatives and good traits wil stand out and attract my attention, as these are something you'll never see in any degree certificate from any Harvard or other university. I will take a young volunteer who has heart, compassion, initiaitives, good social interaction and proven disciplined experiences ( such as handling transport hotline or other related election coordination work, going to hotline work on time, work with other people etc ) any time over a young who does nothing in their spare time other than walking zombie-like to shopping malls, presumably watching videos/playing computer getting fat, immaturity stuck in first gear, and getting their brains blowned up over nothing. 2) In line with what EPIC/Bangkit-SABM is trying to do - to make the difference, to make themselves counted and heard in their own future, to control their own destinies. No money for hotlines ? NO worries. Offers of $ will come in once this is started. Maybe, in exchange of of phone company advertising, they will provide free calls, other sponsorship. The company good name will be posted here regularly for all to know. Please start up asap for the good of Malaysia, EPIC/ Bangkit/SABM and announce here This will help to bring RPK home where he belong, as well. Campaign smart, like smart David sling Vs Goliath brute stength. CONTROL YOUR OWN DESTINIES, the young ones. Save malaysia.

GEL team  - re: |2010-04-12 20:11:48 waipun wrote: :angry: I read the Register to Vote article on Niahmah by Patrick Teo which said the event would take place Sat & su from 10am till 10pm. I was working Sunday from 11am till 9pm at 1Utama. As I didn't want to miss it so I begged my manager/boss to excuse me from work with an early relief. I arrived at Amcorp Mall at 08:23pm. I paid my parking. I walked into the Mall. I walked the entire Ground Floor, the entire basement where Giant Supermarket is, I walked the entire 1st Floor and even approached the Information desk, and I could find any counter or bunting for Register to Vote. My intention was simple, I wanted to Register to Vote for just. But you people failed me. It must be a prank. How dare you guys be so cruel! I was so PISSED! Dear Wai Pun, we have already emailed you a reply. In case you didn't get it, we are ready to drive all the way to your office or house to register you with an AR. Even though we did face tons of problems from the management of Amcorp, we take full responsibility for the lack of information. We only ask if you seek permission from your boss to come over and hopefully help you register your friends and collegues too. We are sincerely sorry. Pls reply to our email.

straits-mongrel  - Now that's classy |2010-04-12 20:36:41 Thanks for the follow-up, GEL team.

GEL team  - GREAT IDEA |2010-04-12 20:47:40 Voter-get-Voters wrote: I have decided to start my OWN Citizen initiative to creat awareness on a " Voter-get-Voters" campaign. I decided to print a 3 inch diameter and a rectangular glossy finished sticker with the following slogan VOTER -get-VOTERS Its NOW or NEVER for a BETTER Malaysia You can stick this stickers onto car back windscreen, read bumper, bike,helmets, bag,T-shirt,cap,computer, or even beer bottles or cigarete packing during social gatherings or activities whereby it can be a topic of conversation. In fact this sticker can be stick on anywhere you prefer..anywhere except public facilities. I take no responsibility if you guys stick on public places such as bus stops,lifts,shopping centers etc etc where the traffic flow is greatest as we are not operating as "BIG Ear Hole" read Tai Yee Loong read Loan sharks. I shall sent to any readers who are keen to help me spread this message across the whole of Malaysia by normal post.And the good news is it is FREE of CHARGE. I be sending you all about 5 stickers each or more if requested by you subject to availibilty.All you have to do is to send me your postal address ,your prefer nickname and quantity required to: voter-get-voters@hotmail.com . Upon receiving this stickers I hope you ALL can get at least 1 new ( D more D merrier) voter and keep them well informed. Who they vote is non of our business. We are 'working' on the behalf of EC since they are also encouraging ALL Malaysians to do their patriotic duty by registering and voting in ALL elections. Ps: If this pilot project received a favourable response I shall proceed with buttons, proper car stickers and eventually T shirts HEY THERE ! YOU HAVE A GREAT IDEA. WE WANT TO MEET UP WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE YOUR IDEA GETS CARRIED OUT IN THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER

Anonymous |2010-06-03 04:01:18 :cheer:

Jasmine |2010-08-17 13:10:55 Thanks for the positive outlook amidst the largely cynical national atmosphere. Thanks for doing something, for willing to start small. Thanks for being a uniting platform.

Self Exiled  - Postal Vote |2011-02-20 02:48:49 Hello, Does anyone know if Malaysians living abroad (ie with proper citizen, IC, etc.) are allowed a postal vote? Or is the privilege exteneded only to the Armed Forces and Diplomatic staff? TIA

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