The Real Winner

She lost to the more experienced political candidates. But who cares about that? To me she is the real winner in yesterday’s election.

Maimun Yusof or Tok Mun, an 89-year-old grandmother proved one important point better than the rest of the candidates had. That one has to dream bigger than oneself and that anything is possible. Tok Mun was denied her dream to contest in the election four times but that did little to her stop her. She kept going.

The super granny did her own campaigning and was practically alone most of the time going to one place to another on foot, by bicycle or taxi. No entourage, no hocus-pocus, just her with the purest of intention. Her resolution and determination should put most young men and women to shame.

There is a picture of this tough lady, the only picture of a candidate in a political contest that didn’t invite contempt from my part, instead it touches my heart and bring tears to my eyes. It shows Tok Mun after a day’s campaigning. Now tell me if it didn’t wrench your heart as well.

Tok Mun’s story is a reminder to me not to abandon my dreams. It’s always too soon to quit!