My Longkang

Character : 77 year old Chinese lady with many children and grandchildren.

Ah Moo : Thank you for coming. I have been so busy. Chinese New Year. My heart is not as it was. My legs hurt sometimes. I get tired easily. Please take home this bottle of acar and packets of keropok from Mukah. Have you registered to vote?

Bengbeng: Huh?

Ah Moo : I heard it will be soon. I never miss voting. My son will come pick me up as always. I still read the newsapers every day. I have nothing to do. It used to be my husband accompanies me for voting but now my son accompanies me.

We have a government who doesn’t care for its people. On the other hand, we have an opposition who nobody pays attention to. What choice do I have in elections? At least my son will come and accompany me for a few hours.

Bengbeng : Why do you vote? It is so difficult for you and especially your son when you have to leave the house.

Ah Moo : My husband used to do it because he believes in our rights as a citizen. I believe in them. This is one of the few remaining rights I have as an elderly woman. My right to vote. I don’t care for my future any more. I don’t worry for the future of my children. They are also old already. It is the grandchildren I am concerned about.

I wonder what life will be like for me when I join the ranks of the elderly. I imagine in my mind her visions of Malaysia in her sheltered world are 100% influenced by the local media and to her anything published is the absolute truth. Will she have total access to the truth before she casts her ballot? How do I explain to her there is an alternative media through the internet? Does she even understand the internet? She lives alone with her maid

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 at 11:50 am and is filed under interesting characters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.