MANIFESTO NIGHT: First Impressions

Manifestos are, by definition, utterly boring speeches where people with a sense of humour lose it. Thus, it came as no surprise that half the candidates took liberties with Manifesto Night. Ghani did a cooking demonstration (Food Exco), Nasyi had a little tune on her ambitions as - what else? - Food Exco, Ajak from, you knew it - the Food Exco! - regaled us with a PowerPoint presentation, Ilya ate an orange to scattered applause - no points for guessing what she's running for. But we at Veritas report. not revel, so let us run through every candidate with as much impartiality as he deserves.

WELFARE: Joey is a world class charmer. He walked up, clutching a huge file, and told the voters this was his speech, but since he had their welfare at heart, he'd only read it after the elections. Then he maintained he was not a typical male. THAT set the crowd wild, for reasons that cannot be discussed here.

Wen Ai delivered a populist speech, with simple language that cut through to the public, and ended with a modified rendition of "Better Man". Sit delivered a serious speech proposing his grand plans for student welfare, some of which made sense (Common transport from KL after breaks) or bordered on the imaginary (Bonus Points system for the Dot.Co, redeemable for trips to KL). We wouldn't mind, though. Nanat gave a solemn speech with all the typical promises about not making any empty promises but trying her best, while

FOOD: Ghani stole the show with his clumsily planned Chef Wan demo. Before he began his speech, he frantically turned his pockets upside down, couldn't find his speech (all reeking of a planned gimmick, of course), dashed backstage and emerged with a table. Then a chair. Then a paper bag and a kettle of hot water. And he proceeded to cook Maggi, asking us to remind him in 2 minutes' time. Speech was ok, many personal moments, including poking fun at his waistline. You said it, Ghani, not me.

Nasyi was a bit off the beaten track, striding up on stage wrapped in a shawl and singing her little ditty about why she chose to run for Food. She was, of course, caught red-handed handing chocolates out to prospective voters out. Couple that with her little "Vote Nasyitah" golden ribbons and you have an expensive campaign. Expensive, of course, is relative, when a vice-presidential candidate reputedly spent RM 1200 on glossy full-colour posters. Feedback? They have been labelled the "Spirulina posters" due to their uncanny resemblance to health product advertisments - clean-shaven metrosexual boy, long pompous words, too much text.

But I digress. Ajak did a PowerPoint presentation on...something like his 23 campaign promises. To his credit, they were ALL small and ALL doable, allowing him to play the credibility card. Ilya brought an orange on stage in a bowl, and proceeded to eat it through her speech - actually many self-penned poems on food cobbled together. Anwar was the serious one this time, giving his staid voice to public scrutiny.

Bangsawan 2005 - A Post Mortem

Bangsawan. A spectacle of light and sound, all couched in the most delectable archaic Malay. With love, murder, intrigue and mystery all converging on the stage that night, it was a night of much tears, both on- and offstage. Eventually, Sapphire prevailed, with 6 victories out of 10 guranteeing its spot in Bangsawan folklore. Here we present a birds' eye view of all four participating houses:

TOPAZ: The judges had it pat down: "Senario". It was so funny the judges were laughing themselves hoarse as observed from Veritas's prime time vantage point in front. Joko, who went on to snag Best Supporting Actor, scouts for a princess to prove his father wrong, in the process rebuffing the advances of another smitten princess in purple. What began as a simple transit into adulthood transforms into a menagerie of trees dancing a la Saturday Night Fever, one softie male fairy (who duly received the lion's share of cheers), and a long and untiring chain of revenge that ends with the princess in purple killing everyone. Immortal line, Joko, momentarily coming back to life after being killed in the end: "Saya mati dalam iman."

SAPPHIRE: A reworking of the forbidden love theme, Amira Anis (the Princess of Malacca) falls in love with Lopez de Sequiera, predictably incurring the wrath of her father. Her courtiers Mawar and Melur free de Sequiera from the dungeons at night, who ends up leading the Portugese invasion of the royal palace. Must see: Amira leaping out from her mother's embrace to kill de Sequiera, her hitherto lover, as he prepares to kill the King. Equally gripping is the scene where the Sultan (Firdaus) jatuhkan tulah on the traitor to the throne - notice he cleverly does not mention his daughter's name - and Mawar and Melur immediately turn to stone. Perfectly scripted and beautifully crafted, it is an epic, and I do not mince my words. They deserve to win.

FLASH: Forest Fires Encircle KYUEM

In Akmal Batu's words, "I first sensed something was amiss on Thursday, when I felt the sky was a bit dark. Then I sensed smoke and knew something was burning." Well, Akmal, you got that right.

KYUEM bore witness to a surprisingly violent forest fire. Here we at Veritas present pictures of the inferno, kindly supplied by our intrepid photograph..ess? Alicia, Order of the Council of Humanitarian Photojournalists, Class II. Her insistence in putting her life on the line for the call of duty was a very selfless act of journalism for the cause of truth. She will be deeply remembered.

Are forest fires a common occurence in KYUEM? In the words of a few seniors, names withheld to safeguard privacy, an emphatic NO. Rendra (name changed to protect privacy) has never seen a forest fire near KYUEM before when encountered on the basketball court, asking me to take a few pictures of this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. He was duly informed that Alicia was battling smoke asphyxiation and tar stains to snap the fire's Kodak moments.

Question: WHAT WAS the fire engine doing dormant at the disaster scene? This particular fire engine was parked here for 1 hour (Alicia as eyewitness), all the while not budging. Question: WHY did the fire engine arrive so late? After about 3 hours of ash raining on people in college (quote Hazwan Senior: "Nicholas's shirt was white when he first sat here." Nicholas was wearing a grey shirt that fateful day in Saad Square.), then Alicia noticed the fire engine present. Well, as Shakespeare so aptly put it, all's well that ends well, and the forest fire disappeared of its own volition on Saturday evening - just in time for Bangsawan, which will be the focus of the next article.

FLASH: Candidate Posters Ripped Off

Who subverts democracy will die a death by the hands of democracy.

A candidate's posters were discovered RIPPED OFF near the cafe entrance. Not "ripped off" the way we know it. Literally TORN OFF the wall.

Any candidate or voter who does so does not understand the process of democracy and is unfit to participate in it. It is all right to hate a person's policies; NOT all right to allow your hate to manifest in an uncivilized fashion. Politics is a game of diplomats, where the pen is mightier than the sword and the conflict is resolved by a war of words rather than a bloodbath of violence. By joining democratic elections, each candidate is submitting himself to public scrutiny, allowing people to judge him in a free and fair manner. Anyone who prevents a free and fair portrayal of candidates thus does not understand that democracy is not power through force. It is power through the ballot box, power to install the person you want in a respectable manner.

We at Veritas are ashamed such an incident has happened in a place where people claim the cream of the crop inhabit. For us, the cream of the crop is souring. One incident may not represent the typical actions or mindsets of the masses, but when one incident is allowed to slip by without notice, two happen. Then three. Then what?

If you do not like someone, don't vote for him. Isn't it simple?

Fine Dining with the Candidates

An all new Veritas activity - Fine Dining with the Candidates - was launched today. Sadly, the only fine moments were supplied by the candidates. Audience participation was atrocious, leaving us to shake our collective heads in Veritas at the intellectual state of the school.

First candidates to arrive were Kenrick and Grace, last Nic-O and Achai. Note of course that the order of arrival of candidates does not reflect in any way their aptitude. Hosted by the beautiful Liz, questions began firing off at 12.35pm. Q1: What personal quality do you have that will relate to your role in the SC? Answers were typical, with a few standing out - Nic-O answering boldly that he would not need to state them for everyone knew how he had perfomed throughout the months, Kenrick's statement that his diligence would win the day, and Hizami's mention that his effort and persistence to shake up the relations between the admin and the students.

Answers to other questions bordered on the implausible at times. Kenrick's funding was questioned, with Liz asking him why he did not spend his huge poster budget on the tsunami victims. Kenrick retorted by mentioning he had already donated a substantial amount to the tsunami victims, but in line with economic theory, he has to save some money for his needs. Go Kenrick!

Also, we opened questions to the floor. As expected, faculty members were averse to the idea. Nicholas opened the grilling by impersonating a voter who did not want change and maintained that change was not required in this college as it was perfect. Achai had the most interesting answer when he began by saying he staunchly agreed the college was good, drawing a few disapproving glances...then turning the tables by proposing "What's good has to be better and what's better has to be best!" A work of mastery.

Regarding the issue of change, many candidates were in favour whereas a minority were insistent on the status quo to remain. Kenrick and Hizami especially were at odds with their differing definitions of "change" - Kenrick saying he wanted to "build bridges between teachers and the students, we should not regard the administration as evil" whereas Hizami maintaining that the Student Council should not merely fight for representation but also for action.

Nic-O had an interesting interpretation - the focus was not just on better administration-student relations but also on better relations between students. He exhorted students that "we are one batch, can't we graduate a united batch?" An audience members' remark that the Academic Committee would have to take action against the recent deterioration of academic results was taken on by Ben, who elaborated to the public that the Academic Exco is in no way responsible for student achievement, as stated in the SC job descriptions. Afida's reaction was to give students motivation but of course to remember that it ultimately boiled down to the student.

At 1.30pm, the talk show ended, leaving, perhaps, the bitter taste of dissatisfaction for all who participated. It in itself, in Faez's words, was a "good idea", but as an actual event it "bombed". Students in KYUEM are still generally unfamiliar with the concept of true democratic openness, but with Veritas Media's resurgence in recent years, we are confident our cause to bring the truth to the public will not waver. Veritas will persist in introducing and exposing KYUEMers to true free speech.

Unrelated Yet Inseparable

VERITAS MEDIA INC would like to proudly announce the public listing today of its FIRST subsidiary company - CHEMISTRY @ KYUEM.

Directed by a Boatd of Governers(esses) consisting of 1 member - Ms Shree, our favourite female chemistry teacher - we envision ourselves as a window to HER world. All her latest resources will not be jealously guarded from now on but will be posted for the entire world to see, share, plagiarize, and pirate from TODAY. This is an act of sheer kindness - we hope you, he discerning user, will likewise treat the material posted with great care and a sense of ethics.

Our subsidiary can be accessed as follows:

http://chemistrykyuem.blogspot.com/

ADMISSION IS FREE. 5% Government Tax not included.

Opening Special: Notes on 4 Pertinent aspects of Organic Chemistry AS Level now available FREE! Alkanes, Alkenes, Halogenoalkanes and Isomerism. Waiting for you, kind patron. Limited offer expires June 2006.

HOT FROM INTEGRASI: Our Manifesto Night

Manifesto Night, Integration Valley. Started late with a whimper, ended with a bang. For the uninitiated (or for those of you who have graduated from college too long ago to remember) Kampung Integrasi - now officially renamed Lembah Integrasi - is where students from different houses all stay in the same ring of chalets. In this year's case - Juniors. Who, coincidentally, are running for SC this year.

As always, they began with a sermon by As-Sheikh Firdaus, the pundits' choice for Muscom this year, delivering his famed Aidil Adha sermon on tsunami victims and how we would now have to reflect and look inward, wondering how this tragic incident will change us. Ketua Kampung Nic-O (Vice-President candidate, just in case you were wondering) interjected, saying it was God's will this had happened to us. He went on to ominously warn us - do we now continue the way we've always lived, oblivious to the world around us, or do we let it serve as a wake-up call? Must we wait for natural disasters to occur before the thought of change strikes us flat on the face?

Next, Totoque strode out, as SPR (Election Commission) chairman to explain the rules for the night's campaigning. No diatribes, no personal attacks, just use your 5 minutes well. First to go was Hizami. (NOTE: Due to our role as a perfectly neutral body of journalism...yeah, right...there will be no commentary whatsoever, no fancy linguistic hyperbole, just the simple facts of what happened that fateful night.)

HIZAMI: The Student Council will fight for the students' rights. If I am elected I promise to bring it beyond the confines of a student representative body. We are the democratically, legally elected leader of the students, thus we should not just be contented in conveying the students' needs to the school - we should PUSH to see our needs be acted upon swiftly. We promise we will fight, till the bitter end, even if it means we will experience a long and drawn-out loss, we promise you we will fight till the end.

ABANG DAUD: I have never changed, I am still the same person I am irrespective of whether it is the Student Council elections or not. I am just me, same old me, you know best in your hearts. Words can be deceiving, and I do not want to promise you anything because I realise it would be an uphill task to deliver the goods if the elected Student Council does not have the means at its wherewithal. You will vote for us based on who we have been over the past 6 months, but I would like to reiterate I have never changed.

KENRICK (Vice President): I am not a person who tries to force things in. I am quiet but I make sure things get done. I employ strategy to make sure what I want done is done. Over time you all have known us well enough and our manifestos won't change much. What is important is how you have seen us perform in the past few months - we can deliver "janji-janji manis" (in his own words). I will promise you I will do what the students want but my strategy will surface on Manifesto Night. I will be a leader - but I will also be a servant to the college and the students.

NIC-O (Vice President) : Coming soon. Look out in this space.

EXCLUSIVE: Hazwan Alif for Treasurer

Hazwan Alif Abdul Rahman (noun) - Plump, Japanese-looking character straight out of a manga comic book. Think Giant from the "Doraemon" series, with the notable exception being this one has a bevy of beautiful women constantly tracking his every step. Today, they have one more reason to do so - his candidacy as Treasurer for Student Council 05. Nicholas Pang presents an exclusive interview with his - surprise, surprise! - chaletmate.

Hazwan is today dressed in chic blue, reflecting of course his dynamic viewpoint in life. In his words:

"I've been thinking of running for SC since the day I entered college. I like organizing stuff, leadership and whatnot. Perhaps Student Council will be one of the things I organize. I was thinking of Secretary, but after gotten advise from friends, I think I should run for Treasurer because the post will help me go together with my course - Economics - as it tallies with the thing i'll do.

"Now we have 2 Diamond Petronas economists battling each other. If we're runing for the same post - the best will win. Both of us share the essential background - well, at least I'm doing accounting...(sniggers) but that's not the reason huh, people will look at overall capabilities and leadershpi qualities as well - not just being Trasurer as in really treasurer - could help to voice student's say - will have a say through the channel of Student Council - college with boarding school rules, school-type thing - at Taylors' culture shock it's like...pats forehead and gasps shrieks in horror due to his sudden inability to communicate in legible English. Can't remember what he wants to say...scratches his forehead...

What does he think he can give to the college? Ponders for a long time...as treasure will make sure all financial budget from college goes to right place for all college activities will get sufficient budget for all activities being done - right activities - as member of SC as whole - contribute by doing things and activitiees to enhance student's welfare, help other members - SC is like being representative of students of KYUEM - if some problems say to wardens, teachers - I as SC member help to solve problme if it reall y is problme to be solved.

My flaws - tend not to speak something if I am intimidated by the people i'm talking to - can overcome it it's not really like always - depends on time - if i don't feel like talking i won't talk at all - if i feel like talking i'll go straightforward i think black is black and white is white . "

Excerpts from THE people that matter

by Jan and Azy.

HIZAMI ~President~
My prospect? It is certainly an uphill battle. I can't really tell what's the difference between my vision and Hisyam's but given the opportunity, in this position, I would convey the common interests of the students and make their voices heard.

ABG.DAUD aka HISYAM ~President~
Honestly, I do feel quite confident. But in life, anything can happen. I'm looking forward to Manifesto Night! I've always been sincere in my approach with everyone. My motive for running this post in the SC is the same with my motive in life- I'm still ME, with the same principles.

KENRICK ~Vice President~
[ I didn't really get what he was saying but the fabulous new,bright blue shirt is certainly a breath of fresh air amidst the the sombre sea of blackness]
[ after 6pm and officially a VP candidate, Kenrick was in a more chatty mood ]
I don't know how all the rumours started about me running for treasurer, I just made up my mind to run for SC last Friday. My vision? Wait for the Manifesto Night *mysteriously*

ABBY ~Vice President~

I feel normal [why of course, the whole TKC Bloc rooting for her ]. Wait for Manifesto Night but of course, I'll be fighting for the students' rights { thats what they all say but do you think it will work with the masses???? }. Abby and seconder, Pai, would like to thank Secretaryman for being their doughnut provider. [ the generous Secretaryman carrying the credit for enticing more nominations this year with his fantabulous strategy of appealing to the hungry food lovers with free Topazian doughnuts, hrrmph ]

GRACE ~ Secretary~

May the best one win. I will do my best if I am elected. However, in the event that I do lose, I would not regret running for SC. At least I have tried.I will have aquired experience from running a campaign.I do not want to look back later and think and regret that I didnt run.

AZLAN ~ Secretary~

*frowns*. I want to report a dissatisfaction with SecretaryMan. I have to buy him a doughnut. What's more, his bigger emphasis is on a cafe treat!! { Azlan, think of it as a campaign strategy. The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach. }

Iliana ~Secretary~

I have not held a Secretary post before but still,I want a chance. I know Grace and Tengku Azlan are popular people, much more compared to me.But it doesnt mean that if they are popular, they only can do the job well.{are you insinuating here??? however, u are right....those that can do a good job are not always the popular ones....common scenario at the workplace...the school nerds become your boss!!! Be sure you are nice to them now!!} All will depend on Manifesto Night.

YC ~Treasurer~

Politics is a dirty job. So right now, I don't feel perfectly pure but I feel good. Just can't wait for it to end; but...this is just the beginning.

Dzaquan ~Treasurer~

Back in secondary school, I have held all the other posts,Secretary,VP....Except Treasurer.This is why I am now running for Treasurer. I want to try something new.I know that I am not one of this college's 'glamour' or popular girls. I have to admit I am a little scared of contending against YC. Everybody knows him through CP. But that doesnt mean that just because he has done the job before, he is the only one that can do it. Bagilah peluang kepada saya....

WEN AI ~ Welfare Exco~

I feel nervous,of course. I don't want to reveal my plans yet. But, just want to assure you, I have your welfare at heart.{ good campaign slogan;hope you are not the typical Malaysian wakil rakyat who promises the moon and stars but.....}

JOEY ~ Welfare Exco~

I am shocked. I didn't expect so many people to contest for this post. I did ask around, but it seems nobody was willing to give me a sincere answer. { this is politics,my son.....mixing with highly kiasu intellectualls which make up KYUEM doesn't change the fact that politics everywhere is dirty.} I am just being myself. I really care about other people and working in the Welfare Exco is the best way to advance their interests and welfare.

SIT ~ Welfare Exco~

{ just for your interest, Sit was really undecided about what post to contest for. He was swinging back and forth between Religious,Food and Welfare Exco. Maybe in the beginning, he wanted a post that was an 'easy-catch'. Why he later decided to run for the most heavily contested post is completely beyond my powers of understanding}

I am nervous but excited at the same time. I do think I can do a better job than others. I might form an alliance with Kenrick to campaign but nothing is really decided yet.

ACAI ~Sports Exco~

Organizing more sports tournaments shall be what I strive for. Not forgetting, of course, making sure that the sports' fascilities are well kept.

AJAK ~Food Exco~

I would like to be part of the SC team and make this college a better place to live. I want to effectively communicate the students' wants and ensure that their comments are respected. For this, good line of communication must be established between the DH and the students.Certainly I will see some changes done!

NASYI ~Food Exco~

I'm happy with what I've decided to do. *nods*

Illya ~Food Exco~

I never thought that this would happen.If I am elected, I hope to be able to improve the DH food and also be able to contribute effectively to SC. I am really surprised that so many people are contesting for Food Exco.I just have to face up to that fact....{ Seniors and veritas too are also surprised. Who would want to want to deal with something so mundane and impossible to change??? Perhaps our candidates mistakenly thought that it would be an easy contest....a large scale of misjudging here, isn't it my dear candidates....}

Dirah ~Food Exco~

In KYUEM,food is obviously one of the most important area of survival.This is why I choose to run for the food committee.To make the act of going through life in KYUEM essentially a more pleasant one.In addition to being part of the student council,this may give me a chance to relay the student's request to the management.{ unfortunately, this wasn't an on-the-spot,pants down,sweaty palms,think on your feet interview."Superman" Nico came to the rescue and spent 10 minutes with Dirah drafting a politically correct response for Veritas, much to our dissatisfaction....Hmm....one of our candidates here doesnt know why she's running, or more possibly her reason isn't 'politically correct'..if you know what I'm saying...}

BEN ~Acad Exco~

*Seen flirting with reporters to get them raise his public image* [ Heh, go Ben, GO!!! ] A lot of students don't aim for the top positions, it seems, they're all crowding the Excos.

MIOR ~Acad Exco~

I'm honoured to be able to compete with this bunch of great people. We are all equally strong. I would work to improve the standard use of English in the college, I mean, it's a necessary preparation to face life in the UK. Maybe we can bring forwrd the library's uses, maybe have book reviews in Veritas!

AFIDA ~Acad Exco~

Ben and Mior are really strong candidates but I'm sure each and every one of us can make our contributions, not only in the Acad Department but the SC in general.

Commentary from Jan and Azy, semi-professional political commentators and critics:

If you do get elected, try to make SC politics clean for the next batch. You can't change the world, but at least try to change the college.That's what your exterior being is in the SC for. Not to get a "good-looking" personal statement, keep that firmly to yourself.

Some candidates: You're one preacher, no doubt about it. Just hope you keep to your words after the election. The world's too full of hypocrites and we certainly don't need more. From what we heard, some of you are either not very confident of winning, or trying to sound humble in an attempt to fish votes, and woo blog readers. Would love to say "Honesty is the best Policy" but in politics generally the phrase need not be implied. All the best!

Stuck At The "A"s

Two more interviews hot and piping, from the battlefields. Due to the sheer amount of gore involved, we have edited out the plane crashes, friendly fire, aborted missile launches, accidental detonation of landmines and near-executions our intrepid reporters had to experience to get the news out to the waiting public. Salute the journalists, dear readers, for without them there would be no events.

Owing to the above threats on our lives - and the sheer amount of Malay parents who only want a name starting with "A" for their children - we haven't finished the "A"s yet - today we feature AJ (Religious), Afida (Academic) and Akmal Batu (Sports). Have I mentioned Ajak, Anwar, Acai, Amira...you get the drift.

AJ, when approached working for Bangsawan, laughed nervously but maintained she ran as she had religious awareness (Editors Note: SMAB Labu girl!) and felt responsible for the moral issues in college. She says she's definitely trying her best as it was a new experience She admits she has yet to prepare a manifesto and was reluctant to tell me its general drift. Told me to wait and see. We'll see.

Why does she think she's better than the others? Basically, "I think I can carry out and do responsibilities and I think I can. If other people think I can, they'll vote for me."

Afida, sincerely, is a girl of great speech patterns. There was no need for me to ask any questions - one and the long unspoken words spewed forth. Her raison d'etre is to plan well. She eschews popularity as a winning basis and merely wants to discover herself. Though it may involve time and - obviously - money, she feels it is something she needs to do.

Dr Ikmal, CEO of the college and her sponsors' representative, once said they should know their ability and expand it, just keeping at what they were doing, taking what they thought was positive. She feels she wants to "see herself and discover the whole tip of the iceberg", for in her words "90% of myself has yet to be discovered."

Before this, she held some posts, most notably as Head Prefect of her previous school and candidly describes it as "high-pressured". She declares it was up to herself to make decisions to choose her own path, and thus the consequences would be hers alone to face.

IMPORTANT: HOW TO ADD COMMENTS!

The Official Four-Step Idiot's Guide to Start Posting Comments!

1. Click on the "0 Comments" link.
2. THEN the Post Comments link will appear.
3. ADD YOUR COMMENTS!
4. Repeat Step 1 if you feel you haven't said enough.
5. Disregard the above 4 steps if you feel you're not an idiot. Then try find the way yourself, smart aleck.

COMMENT guys! If that hasn't rubbed in, COMMENT GUYS! Add your personal views, opinions, rants, whatever. Just cut the cliches. We want honest people, honest comments.

Yours truly

A bunch of tongue-in-cheek honest editors

A: Aardvark Anteater Aaron Awie

Reported by Nicholas Pang

The omnipresent Aaron Singh, as usual, was around to second Lim Sin Wee's nomination as Sports Exco. With characteristic flamboyance and a wave of his highly intimidating hand, he says his candidate is "very good" and he is "highly supportive". (Aaron, that is.) Aaron mentioned Sin Wee's attendance at the MPH was perfect and he feels Sin Wee has a sense of accomplishment. Sin Wee was unavailable for comment. That situation will of course be rectified come tomorrow.

Ahmad Zawawi Abdul Rejab, more affectionately known as Awie, had lots to say in his last press conference. When encountered in his prime spot of real estate next to Hazwan, both caught guzzling huge amounts of junk food, he said response was encouraging - the first candidate to sign up went straight for the Presidents' job. HIS job.

Still, he heard many students had ganged up to form parties, which he adamantly maintains he is "not for". His view that "SC elections will separate them into 2 groups...this will be divergent." He feels the hostility between the alleged "parties", if it transpires so, will be destructive. In his words, "The juniors have 3 sems more. Stay together guys. Aren't elections supposed to unite?" He is, of course, NOT sure whether alliances have happened - juniors would probably be in a better position to snigger (un)knowingly at this - but he maintained alliances between juniors are not supposed to happen. He hoped the alliances were just for election purposes and not for life.

Wise words for candidates with designs on power? "Please be professional, alah menang." He mentioned he couldn't predict the future, thus it'd be hard to tell whether this would be a clean campaign, but convinced us thoroughly that HIS batch's campaign was clean. Hmm.

He hopes no one will feel bad if they lose and encourages positive thinking among losers. His wise words read thus: "Don't worry. You can run for other posts." Yeah, like SC 2006, presumably.

Oh ya. Student Council 2004, sit back and bask in self-admiration. Mister Prezzie says though his job eventually was tough, you guys were a committed bunch. Though at first we didn't knwo each other, once we all got into SC, we truly worked as a team.

interviews, part one of infinity.

Reported by Alicia Goh, Nicholas Pang...

First interviews with candidates and their (surprisingly tiny) entourages outside SC Nomination Room. We cut the video to Pao, an Anwar Ridhwan, Food Exco candidate, supporter: (Gushing) He's sooo responsible and he does a good job! Regarding the inevitable question about what she expected to see on the dining hall menu from now on, she stalled awhile before muttering...no chicken...no fish...sick of them. Good luck, Pao, I'm pretty sure you'll be getting lamb chops from now on, won't you?

We also spoke to the highly visible Hizami, who was loitering round the Nomination grounds, presumably to convince all the other candidates to vote for his tie, if not for him. To keep the esteemed college informed, his multi-country tie of the past week has been replaced by a tie sporting a skeleton. Why? He claims it is a symbol of war and death. Right. And he endorses them? His spiel will take a while to perfect. When we interrogated him as to why he was still hanging around, he said he needed a brief breather. Pressed further, he admitted the next two weeks were probably gonna be the hardest 2 weeks of his life. Sure they are, Hizami. After all, presidents come cheaper by the dozen. Seriously, the official Veritas tagline is, the rougher the candidates have it, the better. We want to see who weathers the adversity best. (Shockingly, it MAY be us. Heh heh.)

SC NOMINEES, HOT FROM THE OVEN

President:
1) Abg. Daud
2) Hizami

Vice President: (M)
1) Nico
2) Kenrick

(P)
1) Abby
2) Amira
3) Raja Farhana

Secretary:
1) Grace Tan
2) Tg. Azlan
3) Iliana

Treasurer:
1) Hazwan
2) YC
3) Dzaquan

Food Exco:
1) Ajak
2) Nashi
3) Anwar
4) Ilya Sahar
5) Ghani
6) Nadirah

Religious exco:
1) AJ
2) Adnianis
3) Judin

Academic
1) Pijai
2) Meor
3) Afida
4) Ben

Welfare:
1) Lee Wen Ai
2) Joey
3) Lina Nadrah
4) Wan Nordiana
5) Zaf
6) Sit Lee Euan

Sports:
1)Acai
2)Sin Wee
3)Batu
4)Odon