Election - Wish from an Old Lady - Part 1 of 4
The Serenity of Harmony Village were erupted with hysteric yelling, “Fire! Fire! ”. A shack built with bamboo and straws were consumed as the fire grew. Hagar, the shack dweller ran out to save herself. In destitute she cried loudly, “My only possession is gone”. Unable to withheld her tears, the droplets made its way down her cheeks as she kept beating her chest with agony and un-soothing sadness.
At golden age, her survival depended solely on a small plot of vegetation she grew near the shack. Left alone to fend herself after her husband fled with another woman and abandoned by her three children. She recalled vividly how an assemblyman came to her aid after her living condition was highlighted by local media. “You will get a new decent house”, the assemblymen assured. That’s 5 years ago and she was still living in the shack.
Hagar felt that life has no purpose. Gaining her last strength, she arose to her feet and move towards the burning flame. As she was nearing the Ground Zero, A villager who was dousing off the fire took notice on Hagar erratic behavior and swiftly ran towards her and pinned her down the ground. “Hagar, it is wrong to take your own life, God forbade”, Elmo exhorted. Hagar wept profusely as Elmo held her close to his chest.
At dawn, smoke billowed where the shack once stood. Everything was burnt to ground. Ashes spewed against the morning fog. Hagar looked at Elmo with sympathetic eyes. Then she said with heavy tone, “If the YB had kept his word, I need not despair the loss. What should I do now? ”. “In God we trust”, Elmo replied. “Be of courage. You need the help from welfare department”, he continued. Elmo lends his shoulder for Hagar to grab on as they stood up and walked to the village head house which is a mile away from the shack.
“Harper, open the door please”, Elmo shouted and knocks vigorously. “Who’s there yelling at this hour”, grudgingly, Harper rubbed his eyes and yawn as he opened the door. “It’s me Elmo. Hagar house was burnt down few hours ago. She’s in dire need.” Elmo explained. “Oh, Hagar, I’m sorry for your loss. It is too early to go to welfare department. We’ll go there at 9am. In the meantime, come in and take a rest”, Harper said apologetically.
At 9am, Harper and Hagar were at the welfare department concourse waiting for the queue number to be called. After an hour, finally the queue number was blared at the PA system. Hagar walked to the designated counter where the officer greeted her politely. She sat down while the officer reviewed the application form. The officer told her that she needed to wait for Six months to a year before any assistant could be rendered. Hagar heart sank with dismay. “Where will I be staying during those periods? Who will feed me? ”, she said quietly to herself. Thanking the officer, she walked slowly to the exit. Harper, seeing Hagar walking out on her own, quickly dashed to her side as they walk out together from the building. “God, if there is any election wish, I prayed that my welfare request will be granted”, she murmured with tearful hope.
Written By,
Ling Chin Hing, Mr.
6th April 2011.
Election - Welcoming Party - Part 2 of 4
Everyone is busy. The YB will be visiting Harmony Village. Harper, the village head, assign task to everyone to make sure everything is in place. Even a lavish feast is in the plan. In the hustle and bustle of the preparation, an old lady sat quietly at a temporary hut. She lost her precious shack to a fire few days ago. She still sadden over the loss but grateful to Elmo and Harper for putting up a temporary hut and the villager contribution on her daily needs. “I’m going to meet and raise my need to the YB”, she’s determined.
“YB is here”, shouted a village boy, Hansel. The route was well decorated and both sides of it pathway were filled with onlookers playing cymbal and harp. It is as if a celebration has taken place. There in the Mercedes car, the YB wave to the villagers, smiling. Slowly, the car move on until it reached a widespread tent where he will be delivering his promising speech. The moment he steps out from his car, without warning, an old lady gushes on to him. “YB, have mercy. Help me to get a place to stay. You promise a house for me 5 years ago. But, now I’d lost my shack. I have no place to stay. Please help to expedite my request with the welfare department”, Hagar pleaded in-deterrent. She even kneeled low to the YB feet as she kept her pleading.
The YB was taken aback with unexpected gesture and quickly regains his composure and held Hagar arm to get her to stand up. “Madam, I promise, I promise”, YB assured. Hagar was overjoyed with the reply and wept uncontrollably. YB immediately signaled his bodyguard to escort Hagar into the tent. Without much delay, he walked towards the bench prepared for VIP. Harper gave a brief introduction about the YB and then invited him to take over the pulpit. The tent is filled to the brink by all the villagers. When the YB began his speech, everyone listen attentively. The message was clear on how the village changes during his tenure as assemblymen and will be further improve. A deafening applause conjured each time an inspiring project was mentioned.
In one corner of the tent, Hagar sat quietly as she is familiar with such promises from the previous election. However, she’ll not give up hope as she knew, each time if election is near, any request made will be expedited and swiftly attended to. After 45 minutes of speech, the YB thanked those who are present for their undying support and walk down from the stage to return to his seat. After quick closing by Harper, everyone adjourned to the lavish feast prepared. During the luncheon, Harper raise up on the urgent need especially Hagar case. The YB promise to look into it once he’s back at his office.
The Mercedes begins its way out from the village as everyone bid farewell. None is more hopeful than Hagar as she stared at the car that vanishes after reaches the main road. “God, if there is any election wish, I prayed that the YB will walk the talk”, she murmured with tearful hope.
Written By,
Ling Chin Hing, Mr.
14th April 2011.
Election - YB Office - Part 3 of 4
YB flips through his files. Tracing back to 5 years promises made that involved one of the villager’s. “If the old lady aired her request to the local media, my chances of winning will be down to nothing. The opposition will fry me if they ever knew such request took place. Now, were did I place the file”, as he said to himself and search frantically. “Ah, there it is. Hagar. To be provided with at decent house”, he read through the file content.
Immediately, he called up the welfare department director. “Good Morning, Hasan. It’s been awhile since we last met”, YB greeted the recipient. At the other end of the phone, Hasan replied, “YB, It’s nice to hear from you again. What can I do for you this time? ”. “Ahh. Just an old case, ‘san. Can you help to trace a submission I’d made 5 years back. An old lady with the name of Hagar?”, YB answered. “Sure, I’ll get back to you tomorrow”, Hasan replied. The next day, Hasan gave a return call to YB. "YB, I have found the submission you’ve made 5 years ago, and the most recent which is a week ago. In the request form, she’s in a dire need of a place to stay and monthly allowance to survive."
“Great. Can you expedite the request?” queried YB.
“YB, I have in my hand several thousand backlog on such cases which also requires immediate attention. I may be term as bias if Hagar case is being approved earlier.” Hasan replied.
“Election is just around the corner, ‘san. I need it to be expedited; Otherwise, I may not be able to retain the constituency seat.” YB sheepishly replied.
“I see what I can do. Give me three days. But, bear in mind, no promises”, Hasan answered.
Three days passes by without any news from Hasan. YB was extremely impatient with the waiting. “Maybe Hasan can’t secure any house for Hagar”, YB mind was worried sick. “What if the opposition gets into my way and used this issue as a yardstick in their campaign against me. What should I do?”, YB mind kept protruding with uncertainties. “Hasan, I need a miracle from you”, YB said prayerfully. Two days later, YB called Hasan.
“Any good news for me, Hasan!”, YB exclaimed. A bit agitated with Hasan hesitance to call him two days ago. “Eh.. I’m not sure how to put it to you. Anyway, here goes nothing. Sorry to say that I’m unable to find any vacant house for Hagar. The location she’s staying has been earmark for massive development in 3 years time. The lands are in the grasp of many greedy developers. They are eyeing closely once the government gives the green light to develop. Here an idea. Her land is highly valued. But, this information only confine to certain circle of people like you and me. Nobody in the village is aware about it. Why not you meet with Hagar, coaxed her to sell her estate to you in exchange with a PPRT (Development Program for the Extremely Poor) flat. Once you take over her land, gives few thousand extra for her survival and a PPRT flat but at your own expense. As YB, You shouldn’t have problem to apply for the PPRT flat on behalf of Hagar from PPRT ministry as the location is under your constituency. ” Hasan suggested. “Thanks Hasan for the data. The amount involve may be less than RM100K, but it’s a risk if Hagar found out about the lopsided deal. I need to handle this with extra care and make it look like a win-win situation for both me and Hagar” YB cheerfully appreciates Hasan proposal.
With this, YB puts down the phone and began to devise a deceitful scheme to cheat Hagar of her ancestral land.
Written By,
Ling Chin Hing, Mr.
24th November 2011.
Election - A Hope Fulfilled - Finale
“Hagar, hagar”, Harper shouted at the front of temporary shack build for Hagar after her house was burnt down. “Harper, what on earth bring you around”, Hagar look at Harper surprisingly. “Look who’s here”, Harper exclaimed to the person behind him. “YB!”, Hagar yelled with excitement.
The shack is too small for three of them to in at the same time. So, Hagar came out and led them to a tree trunk in front of her house nearby a coconut tree. There the three of them sat down. “Hagar, I have a proposal for you. This proposal involves your ancestral land in exchange with a PPRT flat. This is how it will be done. I will assist you to buy a PPRT flat and provide some monies assistance but you need to transfer your land to me. What say you?”, explained YB in a simplest manner to Hagar so she could understand well.
Hagar was taken aback. Her ancestral land in exchange with decent living. She took a wide glance at the one acre land she inherited from her father. It is now bountiful with vegetables bananas and potatoes. “YB, This land is my life. Is there no other way for me to get a decent house to live without sacrificing my land”, Hagar sheepishly asked.
“No, Hagar. The government is unable to provide any PPRT house to you without collateral. You are old and have no dependence. Who’s going to fork out sufficient fund for the legal fees and disbursement to administer the ownership transfer? On top of that, the government is selling the PPRT house way below its actual cost. They can’t give a free house. It won’t be fair to others. I’m offering a win-win option for you i.e., indirectly I took over your land and buy a PPRT flat for you with some monies for you to survive. May I have your answer on this suggestion?”, YB pushed further. “You’re of age. It would be more comfortable and safer if you could stay in a flat instead of a shack. This shack may collapse at any time. I promise I’ll ensure the welfare department will provide monthly allowance for your survival”.
“I need time to think, YB”, Hagar replied. “Give me a week or two”, her voice weakens with sad tone. “Hagar, what is there to think? You live alone without children. This shack is not suitable when it rains. Why not just take the offer”, Harper chipped. “No, no, no. This is an ancestral land. It is my ancestor legacy which was passed down from one generation to another. And I’m the fifth generation. How will I be answerable if I met them in heaven? My father told me that I need to give this land to the village when the time is right. I hope one day, the land could be use to help the needy and homeless.”, Hagar justified.
“Well then, it’s pointless to further this discussion. We’ll wait for your answer soon”, YB said and goes back to his car with despair. Tears rolled down Hagar cheeks as YB car became more and more distance and disappeared from her sight. “Is this how a citizen is to the government? A collateral to benefit from the assistance”, Hagar quietly murmured to herself with anguish. Few nights passes and Hagar is unable to sleep well. Her health began to deteriorate. Each day she coughed profusely and continually lost her appetite to eat. The thought of losing her ancestral land to get a decent home left here unsettled and discontent. Two week goes by as her health seems to worsen day by day. The dearest person that always took concern of her is Elmo. Elmo has never failed to look after Hagar since the fire burnt down her house.
“Elmo, elmo, elmo. Are you there?”, Hagar softly asked for Elmo. Her voice could hardly be heard as her health worsens when she heard creaking sound of someone walking into her shack. Her skeletal body suffered from dehydration and lack of nutrient as she’s unable to eat or drink well. “Hagar, I’m here. I’m here. Why do you ask of me”, Elmo looked at her sympathetically. “Elmo, I’m dying soon. Take care of this ancestral land. There are greedy hands trying to get hold to it, especially that YB”, Hagar told Elmo. “Rest Hagar, Rest. Don’t think too much. You will get well soon”, Elmo said. “No, I will not live pass today, Elmo. Promise me. Fend this land of mine.”, Hagar grabbed Elmo shirt and pull him closely to him. “I promise. I promise. Now, Please rest”, Elmo assured and laid down Hagar. With that Hagar breathe her last.
Hagar was buried in the evening. YB, Harper, Elmo and other villagers was there. After the burial was over, without time to lose, YB approached Elmo and told to him about his intention.
“YB, you are a great man. I’m just a plain village boy who lives day by day. What I have is enough and I do not need more. Every one adores and looks up to you as a caretaker of this constituency. I’m grateful on your good intention. But, I have a promise to keep. The land belongs to the villagers. This is Hagar legacy. Though she has nothing, yet she has riches in generosity and virtue. The rich and powerful may be great, but they are of poor in moral and virtue; therefore, you cannot be part of Hagar legacy”, Elmo sarcastically tell off YB and walked away. YB was stunned a moment as he watch Elmo disappears in the crowd.
Written By,
Ling Chin Hing, Mr.
24th April 2012.