We went campaigning this evening at the Wawasan flat "pasar malam" (night market). YB Chong Eng wanted to meet and greet the Rakyat and to warn them about the increasing crime rate.

Rev. Jim Wallis wrote: Protest is good, but alternatives are better.

Indeed, and YB offered several points of alternatives in our little information pamphlets which were distributed free of charge to the folks at the pasar malam.

Again, the photographs below were taken with my dopod with one hand holding YB Chong Eng's books for sale, so, sorry if the qualities are way below standard:

DAP Bkt Mertajam T-Shirt (designed by Guna, whose pictured above wearing the tshirt)

Guna used a loud speaker to do the "jual ubat" thing, making speeches about the escalating crime rate and warning the people to be extra careful especially during the coming festive seasons.

We set up a small table beside the man selling balloons. He's a fan of Chong Eng it seemed. On the little table we set up, there were YB's books on sale and t-shirts and the pamphlets informing public on the crime statistics in Malaysia.

JR, first time but happily doing it...handing out the pamphlets to the stall owners and the "pasar malam" visitors. On the other hand, I was waving Chong Eng's books at them, trying desperately to sell the RM10 books titled "Pi Ping Zhen Fu Shi Ai Guo" (Criticizing the Government is Patriotism). It was tough or probably I just didn't have the sales acumen. But thank god by the time we finished, I only had one book unsold.

I realized that the majority who were interested in our campaign were mostly of the older generation, the gen-Xer and older. Younger folks, around 20s upto early 30s were generally not interested to even take the free pamphlets.

The older generations probably had lived through freer (more liberal) days and saw Kit Siang, Karpal and the likes in fiery actions. The younger generations were the product of national school indoctrinated with the fear to think beyond status quo especially when it comes to politics.

Anyway, I really hope the electorate will choose prudently when it comes to balloting. We desperately need more grassroot education and empowerment to build a stronger civil society. That way, the people need not fear a bullying government, whether a BN or DAP government.

Chong Eng resting after a good two hours plus of meeting and greeting the people at the pasar malam. Tonight we go into our god ordained rest, but tomorrow, the struggle for a better Malaysia continues.