E Contrario

Liew Chin Wen and Lee Mei Kian (美娟) got married and held a wedding banquet in Penang yesterday (20 January). The whole group of his friends from KL and Ipoh went to celebrate their joyful moment together.

My Saturday nights are normally pretty occupied with political activities, but I have reserved this weekend for the young couple. Chin Wen was my polling agent in 2004 general election. He was studying law and working in Ngeow’s law firm. When he completed his degree last year, he returned to Penang to practice law.

He and Mei Kian were student activists from the Reformasi era. The upheavals of those years had awaken and conscientized many students of that generation.

Chin Wen was first involved in 1999 election, when I stood in the parliament seat of Selandar Melaka. His wife Mei Kian too was there helping my campaign. I wonder their romance began there?

I was very lucky to have a team of energetic and dedicated students to work with me. Although I lost that election, we had a good time. We were proud that we gave Fong Chan Onn a good run. He was really nervous to face an unprecedented challenge.
I must salute the youngsters of Chin Wen generation. They were the first batch of university students in 1990s to be directly involved in election campaign.

They were the courageous lot who stepped out of campus and tested the boundary of the University and University College Act (UUCA).

In 1999, students chartered a new trend by defying the convention. They have made history.

I wish my newly wed couple a happy life together, share their love while continue to pursue idealism. Good luck!