By WINNIE YEOH ([email protected])
GEORGE TOWN: About 2,000 students of SMK Raja Tun Uda in Bayan Baru were exposed to a real election atmosphere when the school carried out its election for prefects over two days — with help from the Penang Elections Commission (EC).
Just like the real deal: Students waiting to cast their votes at the school in Bayan Baru while (bottom) a student makes her choice at the ballot box.
The EC not only briefed the students in charge of the election on the country’s election system, but also provided 30 ballot boxes.
Penang EC deputy director Mohd Faiz Syazwan Zainal Abidin said the EC briefed the students on the election system last month upon an invitation by the school.
“This is beneficial to the students as they received early exposure to the election system in Malaysia.
“SMK Raja Tun Uda is the only school in the state to have carried out such an election,” Mohd Faiz said yesterday.
A total of 56 candidates from Form 1 to Form 4 stood for the election.
One candidate each from Form 2 to Form 4 was elected a permanent perfect, while another from each of the Forms was chosen as temporary prefects.
Another 30 out of 43 candidates in Form 1 were also picked as temporary prefects.
Elected Form 4 candidate Mohd Badri Hasrizal Mohd Zarith said it was an experience he will not forget, as he felt like a “politician” campaigning for the election.
“Even though this is not a real general election, I get to experience how it is like for politicians in elections,” he said.
School prefect club adviser Shazaratul Nur Sharjudeen said the candidates were given the opportunity to run their campaigns, like coming up with posters besides promoting themselves during school assemblies.
School head prefect Mohamad Nazri Abdul Latiff said Form 5 students were in charge of the procedure, as the school had decided to let them learn about the election.
“The election is good as the prefects are elected by the students,” he said.
The other candidates who were elected permanent prefects were Mohamad Syahrulnizam Bathusha Hamid (Form 2) and Sadi Nor Harris Affindi (Form 3).