JOHOR BARU: With the 15th General Election (GE15) around the corner, pre-university students of SMK Skudai here hosted a mock election at the school.
The mock polls, organised and conducted by the schools Form Six students, gave them the opportunity to hold a fair and effective democratic system to elect the Representative Student Council Committee.
Pre-university Student Representative Council teacher-adviser Norliza Mohamad said the mock polls were held to provide students an understanding and overview of how an actual election in the country was carried out.
She said the school would be able to produce capable student leaders who understood the needs of other students and the significance of student leadership.
She said the election could instil the spirit of democracy among students, and allowed them to choose suitable and efficient leaders who could voice and perform tasks for the benefit and welfare of others.
The election process was carried out transparently and provided a novel experience and opportunity for potential leaders to campaign at the school.
She said since Malaysians as young as 18 years old would be eligible voters in this general election, the mock election was vital as it connected theory and reality.
Earlier, five students vying for the post in the student representative council committee presented their manifestos to their peers and teachers.
The students gave passionate speeches and, in their usual rhetoric style, attempted to convince voters on their plans to implement their manifestos.
Campaigning and canvassing went on for four days, where candidates put up posters and placards along the school corridors and steps leading to the classrooms.
The atmosphere at the school gave students the feeling that an actual general election was in progress.
Teng Xiang Kang, 18, who is vying for the student council leadership, said he planned to improve the schools infrastructure.
I also want to make the school a safe place for all students and ensure nails and used staples are not strewn all over, he said.
He said damaged doors needed to be mended as soon as possible as it posed danger to all.
Another sixth former, Nur Iffah Syahzani Ramli, also 18, said she planned to repair malfunctioning toilets at the school.
She also said her key priority was holding competitive sports, where students can engage themselves in physical activities that involving individual and teamwork skills.
Competitive sports can teach us about life, she said.
Vjtaashvin Vethiah, 18, said he wanted to create more Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) programmes to increase students motivation and engagement.
The programme can also develop students ICT capabilities with active collaboration and discernment, he said.
Another contender, Yap Yew Joe,18, said he wanted to improve the restrooms, especially for students.
Most of the flush system is malfunctioning and needs repair, besides the stench, he said.
Yap was planning a questionnaire, where students can give their opinions on whatever that needed to be brought to the attention of the school authorities.
Another candidate, Subaanu Suthesh, 18, planned to create a more conducive and relaxing space where students can unwind after their lessons.
Form Six students are indeed stressed out most of the time and they need some place to sooth and calm their mind, she said.
She also wanted to make sure that photocopying machines were available at the school so that students could duplicate their notes without resorting to services outside the school, which can be quite costly.
School principal Rostena Ismail said students not only gained knowledge through the mock election, but stayed engaged because of the fun way in which the information was presented.
She said the mock election ideally can make the new standards relevant to the concerns of election campaigns and to everyday life.
She added that this was one way in which educators sought to energise young people and first-time voters.
