IT was a sea of students in yellow shirts in Universiti Malaya (UM) tonight when the election results were announced. Those none the wiser might have thought this was a Bersih rally.

But no, these yellow-clad youths are none other than the pro-establishment student faction of UM (Pengerak), standing in the rain outside of Dewan Tunku Canselor in the campus as only representatives were allowed inside the hall.

They cheered as each Pengerak candidate won , but when the 21st candidate was named to be from Pengerak, everyone cheered and screamed in delight.

The UM student parliament has 40 seats and requires 21 seats for a majority to be achieved.

But the names kept on coming, sealing a resounding victory for Pengerak as they won 30 out of the 40 seats by 7pm.

Everyone then started singing, a band was pulled out of nowhere, flags were distributed, hands were clapping, people crying, hugging each other and jumping in delight.

Hazwan Syafiq, Pengerak’s election manager when approached by The Malaysian Insight was too emotional to even speak.

“We won 30 out of 40, I think that is enough,” Hazwan said with tears of joy and continued celebrating.

Pengerak has won 5 zone seats, and 25 faculty seats.

Pengerak had originally named 38 candidates to contest in UM’s elections.

Zairita Mohd Yusoff, 20, who was among the crowd, said she was overjoyed when she heard Pengerak won.

“I had expected the win because I personally know one of the representatives, and he has great leadership skills,” she said.

Po Sheila Rani Letchmanan, 21 said all of Pengerak’s student movement leaders had shown great leadership.

“I might contest as a candidate next year, we’ll see, nothing is set in stone.

Kon Hua En president of the anti-establishment student movement UM Association of New Youth (UMANY) said UMANY has only managed to win two zone seats in UM and no faculty seats, despite contesting in 28 seats.

If UM’s elections are a mirror of national politics, it can only prove one thing. The house always wins. – September 28, 2017.