“Oh my God! This is it! Parliament has FINALLY dissolved!” I exclaimed to the reporter standing next to me who was also sheltering from the heavy downpour outside of Prime Minister’s office.
The mini roof of our DSNG van was the biggest shade for those who did not bring their umbrella.
Although through the dark clouds I could only see light.
My thoughts flashed before me; holidays in Perhentian, Thailand and diving trips. All those plans were put on hold for one year due to the whole waiting game of when the Parliament will be dissolved.
My phone rang disturbed my mini daydream.
“Okay, PM has already given his speech. We are going live to you shortly, quickly standby in front of the camera,” said the director from Awani studio.
“Alamak sempat ke?” I asked my crew as we had moved from the place where we earlier parked the camera due to the rain.
“PM still giving his speech. I think we can still make it,” a fellow colleague assured.
Then suddenly one of the technicians said: “Air hujan masuk van kena equipment. Power trip.”
“What??” (Man, I tell you technical problems always happens to me during live crossovers. Either I’m jinxed or what, I do not know)
Anyway, I didn’t really know what they meant. But after two minutes of deciding to proceed or not, we just went with it.
We soon ran back to where we first parked our camera -- right in front of the Prime Minister’s office gates and get ready to crossover live from the ground.
I also noticed we were the only TV station who broadcasted live from outside the office -- in the rain. Me, under the umbrella giving my report. That was my look. Quite dramatic I must say. And memorable too.
More than anything it was the momentous feeling of being able to be part of history. The dissolution of Malaysia’s 12th parliament.
I always love how the job of a journalist gives you a front seat tickets to see history in the making.
The experience is priceless.
After two crossovers -- one brief and another longer version in the 12 noon bulletin, the rain continued to pour.
But the reporters stayed on to get the reactions of ministers leaving the office building.
However, it was not easy for about 20 over media personnel including photographers and cameraman squeezing to get comments from ministers through the car window. Imagine that!
But we had to do what we had to do.
Some ministers stopped for us, obliging to answer our questions. However, they were mostly very short and brief comments: “Ya, kami sudah bersedia untuk PRU.”
Since 8am the reporters from various news organisations who camped outside of the Prime Minister’s office waited until all of the cabinet ministers left the building before making their way back to their offices.
But our hearts are delighted. I saw many happy faces. Mainly because the first episode is over.
Now we wait for the other episodes to take place i.e. nomination day, campaign period and election date before we can finally get to the episode that everybody has been waiting for - back to our normal lives.
As we left the place, I felt such relief in my heart. It is a feeling I can’t really describe.
I shook the hand of a fellow reporter and said “thank you for sharing this historical moment with me.”
Tan Su Lin
Thu Apr 04 2013
PRK KKB: Jangan mengundi ikut emosi - Azalina
Pengundi di kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) dinasihatkan supaya tidak mengikut emosi ketika mengundi pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK), 11 Mei ini.
Microsoft labur AS1.7b di Indonesia untuk teknologi awan dan AI
Microsoft bakal melabur AS$1.7 bilion dalam tempoh empat tahun akan datang bagi pembangunan infrastruktur awan dan kecerdasan buatan di Indonesia, kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya Satya Nadella
Nadella sebagai berkata, pelaburan itu merupakan yang terbesar dalam sejarah 29 tahun Microsoft di negara itu.
Nadella sebagai berkata, pelaburan itu merupakan yang terbesar dalam sejarah 29 tahun Microsoft di negara itu.
Haiwan turut berisiko hadapi 'strok haba'
Gelombang haba yang melanda seluruh dunia memperlihatkan kesan jelas terhadap alam serta hidupan di muka bumi ini. Di Bangladesh misalnya, pengusaha-pengusaha kedai haiwan mencuba sedaya upaya untuk memastikan haiwan peliharaan di kedai mereka tidak mati dalam cuaca ekstrem ini.
Malaysia tewas 2-3 kepada Denmark pada aksi akhir kumpulan D
Malaysia dan Denmark masing-masing sudah pun melayakkan diri ke suku akhir selepas mencatat kemenangan 5-0 ke atas Hong Kong dan Algeria.
Fungsi JAKIM, Kementerian Perpaduan Negara berbeza - mohd na'im
Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Hal Ehwal Agama) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar menegaskan fungsi Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) adalah berbeza dengan Kementerian Perpaduan Negara (KPN).
Sultan Nazrin dilantik pengerusi bagi tempoh dua tahun
Sultan Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah dilantik sebagai Pengerusi Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Malaysia (MKI) bagi tempoh dua tahun berkuat kuasa 9 Mac 2024 hingga 8 Mac 2026.
JKN Terengganu siasat dakwaan kes keracunan makanan
Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Terengganu sedang menyiasat dakwaan kes keracunan makanan selepas dipercayai menjamah sejenis kuih membabitkan beberapa individu termasuk kanak-kanak.
Remaja warga asing samun, menyamar pegawai polis ditahan
Polis menahan remaja lelaki pemegang kad Suruhanjaya Tinggi Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu bagi Pelarian (UNHCR) kerana disyaki terbabit dengan kegiatan samun dan menyamar sebagai anggota polis.
Pesawah mengaku tidak bersalah
Seorang pesawah mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen Butterworth atas pertuduhan memuat naik mesej berbau hasutan mengaitkan Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim dengan aktiviti perjudian dalam satu kumpulan WhatsApp, lima hari lalu.
Terengganu tidak bincang cadangan hukuman sebat di khalayak - Azalina
Tiada sebarang perbincangan di antara Kerajaan Negeri Terengganu dan Kerajaan Persekutuan tentang cadangan pelaksanaan hukuman sebat bagi kesalahan syariah di khalayak atau tempat awam.
Penggodam disokong China sasar infrastruktur kritikal AS
Syarikat itu berkata organisasi yang terjejas oleh kempen berniat jahat itu antara lain termasuk maritim, kerajaan dan teknologi maklumat.
Isu asal usul COVID-19 dipolitikkan - Tinjauan CGTN
Hasil tinTjauan kumpulan pemikir China Global Television Network (CGN) mendapati bahawa 80 peratus responden berpendapat usaha merungkai asal usul pandemik COVID-19 dicemari politik.
"Saya tidak boleh menulis, kini berdepan masalah kesihatan" - Amitabh Bachchan
Bintang Bollywood Amitabh Bachchan kini dilaporkan sedang mengalami masalah kesihatan dan sedang menjalani rawatan di sebuah hospital di India.
Memoir Thomas: Azalina gesa peranan AG dan pendakwa raya dipisahkan
Azalina berkata kuasa pendakwaan menjadikan Peguam Negara antara individu paling berkuasa di Malaysia.
Penulis blog 'Big Dog' meninggal dunia
Berita sedih mengenai pemergian Zakhir, 52, dikongsi oleh beberapa pengguna media sosial di laman Facebook Allahyarham, sebentar tadi.
Undang-undang diguna untuk sesuatu yang tidak demokratik, adil - Tun M
Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berpendapat bahawa undang-undang ketika ini digunakan untuk melakukan sesuatu perkara yang tidak demokratik dan adil.
'Tinggal saya seorang, saya kesunyian' - Tun M luah rasa sedih atas pemergian sahabat
Ahli Parlimen Langkawi berkata beliau dan Khalid bersama selepas tamat Perang Dunia Kedua.
Isu kuarantin: Khairuddin nafi ke Belanda, beri amaran saman pemfitnah
Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali menafikan dakwaan kononnya beliau pergi ke Belanda ketika lawatannya ke Turki semasa PKPP.
Malaysia mungkin jadi negara perasuah jika jenayah itu terus dipandang ringan - Tun M
Apabila ramai yang anggap rasuah bukan sebagai satu jenayah yang buruk, maka ia akan berkembang sehingga menjadi amalan seluruh masyarakat.
Lebih 50 peratus rakyat Malaysia percaya melancong dalam negara lebih selamat selepas PKP
Nancy berkata, daripada tinjauan itu, sebanyak 50.9 peratus responden mempercayai bahawa melancong dalam negara lebih selamat selepas PKP.