Being part of the history in the making

“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.”