In the mood for elections

This video was about 2005 UM Campus election and was edited by my friend, Discordantdude.



Production Philosophy by discordantdude
In the mood for elections is my feeble attempt not so much to convey a message but to capture the mood of a particular time period. In other words, I want my audience to feel, to ride on the sentiments of that time – the anger and frustration, the activism and solidarity, the injustice and disappointment, the fear and intimidation; yes, more than anything else in the face of apathy, I want the students to feel, to immerse in the emotions of captured, fragmented moments. But not having a systematic body of content does not mean that I’m neutral. And not being neutral does not mean that I’m wrong. My not being neutral means that I am also inclined to feel a certain way about student politics, and to hold to certain normative convictions about elections.

Set in University Malaya in 2005, I have intentionally waited for my release from the UUCA (University and University College Act) before producing this short movie. I have also strategically chosen to do this after the 2006 elections in order not to be caught up with the hype that so often distorts good intentions. Besides that, I have kept it below 10 minutes because I have plans to upload it online and make it more publicly available. My hope is that “In the mood for elections” will not be used as a piece of propaganda but as a launch pad to feel, to think, and to dialogue. While the production of this movie is solely my responsibility, this effort will not be possible without the total initiative by contributors of the 3lang project and all who have shown support to its cause. While 3lang is sort of dysfunctional now, I have not ceased to dream that one day students can once again mobilize and organize themselves in an open, civil, and democratic manner.

Sypnosis by bohtea
Call it the annual ‘sandiwara’- but campus elections held in public universities nationwide capture both the fascination and criticism of many each year. The alleged fights, and sleazy conspiracies are enough to make a soap opera a runaway success, but these are no mere plots made for television. The campus elections are known to be micro schisms of the country’s general elections, and launching pad for aspiring politicians. No wonder there are many who are willing to get their hands dirty over who sits in the student council each year.

Year 2005 was not an exceptional year- the pro-administrative students or notoriously known as the “Aspirasi” were set to make a clean sweep at the campus elections again. But 2 decades of clamping down opposing student movements has fanned enough flames to call for reformation in student politics.

However, with a hostile campus climate and the University and University College Act-a design to diffuse students from becoming a prominent political force; reformation is expected to be difficult, laborious; even bloodied. Will university students ever succeed in instigating any change?

“In the mood of elections” is a humble invitation to the Malaysian society to think, reflect and dialogue on the democratic processes of the country.

Watch the intense drama, frustrations and sentiments as university students wrestle for a week to win- not just votes, but ideals; to capture- not just hearts, but minds; to elect-not just people, but justice, as fore runners to campus elections.

**This video clip marks the official closure of 3lang.blogspot.com**