Budding Politician at 58?

It was surreal.

Last month, I received a letter from YB Thomas Su, ADUN and Exco member of Perak, notifying me of the date of the forthcoming branch AGM. On the same day I received my DAP membership card dated November 2007 under separate cover (it took more than 6 months to get clearance from ROS!).

Last Sunday, I reminded myself to attend the meeting. I have never been to Thomas’s service centre in Pasir Pinji. After dinner and after watching a few minutes of News at 8, I set off to look for it. These days, driving at night is a problem for me, as everything seems different when covered with darkness, except where lighted. In Pasir Pinji, I actually went past a coffeeshop, Kin Fatt and went all the way towards Ipoh town. At a familiar junction, I turned right which took me to Restoran Tuck Kee. I turned right towards the market, as I was told by a friend, that Jalan Sultan is just after it, on the right. Again, I went past Kin Fatt to park my car, knowing that it should be within walking distance. I found the DAP sign next to Kin Fatt and walked towards the entrance. I was already late by 20 minutes.

Just imagine, as I walked in, Thomas who was conducting the meeting, greeted me, gesturing to a seat opposite him. He said, “In your absence, we have appointed you Chairman of the Branch”. I did not take him seriously and replied, “No kidding?” in Cantonese and he replied the same. During the meeting, I still did not take him seriously. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I will be one of 3 delegates selected to attend the party convention next month in Penang!

I happened to know a singer who is also a committee member and we decided to have a drink at Kin Fatt. It looks like we are likely to include music in our future activities, a far cry from the usually staid DAP ones. Just to show how unprepared I was, I did not even get to know the rest of the members by at least inviting them for a drink.