A botched campaign strategy that focused more on urban areas in Teluk Intan was behind DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud's loss in the May 31 by-election, as the party failed to compensate for her political inexperience and unfamiliarity with voters, according to a new survey by the Merdeka Center.
The survey of 404 Teluk Intan voters over the weekend showed that Barisan Nasional (BN) reached out to almost all segment of voters while DAP and its allies reached out to more men in urban areas, and less women.
Dyana Sofya lost by 238 votes to BN's Datuk Mah Siew Keong, the Gerakan president who had served two terms as Teluk Intan MP before losing in 2008.
"Election results show voters cannot be taken for granted and would teach parties a lesson given the opportunity," Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian told The Malaysian Insider.
"The DAP still has a long way to endear itself to the Malay community but the slight rise in support shows that it is doing some things right," the respected pollster added.
In the survey commissioned by The Malaysian Insider, the Merdeka Center found that 13% of respondents voted for a different party compared with last year, with 29% of them saying they did so because they wanted to see more changes.
According to the survey, voters viewed development politics and the famous local candidate of BN as the key reasons for BN’s victory.
It discovered that 14.7% felt that the DAP lost due to Dyana Sofya's inexperience while 9.4% said it was because she was not a local and 11.7% believe that many young voters did not go back to vote in the by-election.
The survey also found that DAP also did not cover enough ground to explain its move to field a political novice, while BN campaigners were nearly twice as prolific in the online arena, and nearly blanketed the electorate in Teluk Intan.
Some 72% of the respondents surveyed from June 6 to June 8 said they received messages from the BN campaign team through their mobile phones or social media, as opposed to only 31% from the DAP.
"When trying a novel idea or approach or even a candidate, massive information campaign is needed to explain the rationale to voters; here the election communications outreach is critical. Online alone is not enough," Ibrahim added.
Meanwhile, 35% of voters said they had interacted with BN campaigners in Teluk Intan, while only 23% said they had encountered DAP’s campaigners.
The survey found that DAP was already handicapped by Mah’s familiarity among the people of Teluk Intan.
Nearly half (45%) of the survey respondents who voted BN last month said Mah, as opposed to BN, was the reason behind their choice.
The Gerakan president was born and raised in the constituency but Dyana Sofya was a virtual unknown before she was fielded; the young lawyer’s role in politics prior to the campaign had been as DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang’s aide.
Some 65% of the respondents who had voted for Dyana Sofya did so because of her party, rather than the candidate herself.
This was despite DAP touting Dyana Sofya as the face of “new politics”, saying if she won, she would represent youths and women in Parliament, and that her win would signal the end of racial politics.
But Mah won in spite of his party and coalition’s unpopularity in the constituency – garnering 20,157 votes against Dyana Sofya’s 19,919, despite analysts predicting DAP would retain the seat.
Being the federal government, BN and Mah were able to pledge government-backed development for Teluk Intan and 13.5% of the respondents said they believed BN won because it provided social welfare assistance.
Among Indian respondents, 27.9% said they believed BN boosted their campaign with goodies, financial aid or goods to voters.
BN leaders such as Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had promised free uniforms for Rela members in Teluk Intan, and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek had said free wireless Internet could become a reality, should Mah win the May 31 by-election.
Some 55% of respondents also felt BN spoke about issues that the people of Teluk Intan wanted to hear, as opposed to 33% who felt that way about the DAP.
The survey found that cost of living and local issues affecting the public motivated voters a great deal more than issues such as hudud or corruption scandals.
Dyana Sofya’s manifesto relied heavily on national issues such as the goods and services tax (GST), the rising cost of living and corruption.
She was noticeably silent on local issues affecting Teluk Intan voters, such as development and infrastructure issues, despite 65% of the electorate being involved in agriculture-based industry.
Mah had taken the opposite route, promising Teluk Intan a university, as well as pledging to turn it into an agro-based industry and tourism hub.
He evaded reporters’ questions on his position on national issues, and instead said he wished to focus on Teluk Intan’s needs.
In its ceramah around Teluk Intan, DAP had argued it was pointless to vote in a leader who would ultimately bow down to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s unpopular policies such as the GST.
But 26% of those polled said they were more concerned about who could bring development to Teluk Intan.
Dyana Sofya’s message of how she represented non-racial politics resonated the most with the Indian respondents (41%); only 14% of Malay and 17% of Chinese respondents cared for the issue.
The survey respondents were selected through random stratified sampling along the lines of ethnicity, gender, age and polling districts. They were polled by telephone.
Some 43% of the respondents were Chinese, 38% were Malay, and 19% Indian. Men and women were equally represented, and all were above 21 years of age.
The Teluk Intan seat has 23,301 Malay voters (38.6%), 25,310 Chinese voters (41.9%) and 11,468 Indian voters (19%). – June 12, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/botched-campaign-strategy-failed-dap-in-teluk-intan-survey-shows#sthash.SyYWBkp0.dpuf
Promoting Thinking Minds Via Rational Rationale
Showing posts with label Dyana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dyana. Show all posts
Thursday, 12 June 2014
Saturday, 7 June 2014
DAP needs to change its play
Its failure to understand the Teluk Intan terrain shows that it needs to move on from its old ways.
DAP must face the reality that some Chinese voters are returning to BN. They showed this not only in Teluk Intan recently, but also in Sungai Limau last November and in Kajang last March.
The shifts were slight, but they cannot be dismissed as coincidental or unimportant. DAP must dig deep to find out the reason or reasons.
In the case of Teluk Intan, at least one reason is obvious. DAP did not correctly read the ground sentiment in the rural constituency. To borrow an expression from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, DAP failed to “understand the terrain”.
The Chinese voters believed that Gerakan’s Mah Siew Keong could bring development to Teluk Intan because federal funding would be available to him. After all, he had not stopped working for the constituency even after losing in the 13th general election.
Furthermore, the Chinese did not want Mah to lose face by being defeated by a young girl, and a political newbie at that.
As for DAP’s Indian supporters, they wanted M Manogaran, who served Teluk Intan from 2008 to 2013. Indeed, they considered the seat his.
Said Manogaran: “The Indian voters were upset that I was sent to Cameron Highlands for GE13, but when Seah Leong Ping passed away, there was a golden opportunity for me to come back. The Indians told me they were unhappy with DAP. Some of them vented their anger at the ballot box.”
Throughout Perak, in fact, many DAP grassroots members think Dyana was too young and inexperienced to be sent to a rural area. They feel she should have waited to contest for an urban seat in the next general election.
Of course, Dyana’s performance was impressive. She lost to a veteran by only 238 votes. And the loss could also be explained by citing the low voter turnout of 66%. Low voter turnouts always put the opposition at a disadvantage.
Nevertheless, the thought of BN being able to take a seat that the late Seah won so handsomely just about a year ago should give us pause. And DAP must keep this in mind as it plans for the 14th general election.
The first thing that the party must do is set up a think tank consisting of corporate planners, journalists and independent pollsters. Ideas from the grassroots and opinions in urban as well as rural areas need to be taken into consideration.
DAP needs a think tank from which the leadership can cull ideas generated by a team dedicated to the business of analysing political trends. It needs to move away from depending merely on the opinions and suggestions of one or two MPs.
Having a think tank will enable DAP to source for ideas and suggestions from a wider range of people.
Politics is a game for the fast and furious, and DAP must certainly change its style of play. It can begin by admitting that it made a tactical blunder in Teluk Intan. The great thing about mistakes is that you can learn from them.
FMT
DAP must face the reality that some Chinese voters are returning to BN. They showed this not only in Teluk Intan recently, but also in Sungai Limau last November and in Kajang last March.
The shifts were slight, but they cannot be dismissed as coincidental or unimportant. DAP must dig deep to find out the reason or reasons.
In the case of Teluk Intan, at least one reason is obvious. DAP did not correctly read the ground sentiment in the rural constituency. To borrow an expression from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, DAP failed to “understand the terrain”.
The Chinese voters believed that Gerakan’s Mah Siew Keong could bring development to Teluk Intan because federal funding would be available to him. After all, he had not stopped working for the constituency even after losing in the 13th general election.
Furthermore, the Chinese did not want Mah to lose face by being defeated by a young girl, and a political newbie at that.
As for DAP’s Indian supporters, they wanted M Manogaran, who served Teluk Intan from 2008 to 2013. Indeed, they considered the seat his.
Said Manogaran: “The Indian voters were upset that I was sent to Cameron Highlands for GE13, but when Seah Leong Ping passed away, there was a golden opportunity for me to come back. The Indians told me they were unhappy with DAP. Some of them vented their anger at the ballot box.”
Throughout Perak, in fact, many DAP grassroots members think Dyana was too young and inexperienced to be sent to a rural area. They feel she should have waited to contest for an urban seat in the next general election.
Of course, Dyana’s performance was impressive. She lost to a veteran by only 238 votes. And the loss could also be explained by citing the low voter turnout of 66%. Low voter turnouts always put the opposition at a disadvantage.
Nevertheless, the thought of BN being able to take a seat that the late Seah won so handsomely just about a year ago should give us pause. And DAP must keep this in mind as it plans for the 14th general election.
The first thing that the party must do is set up a think tank consisting of corporate planners, journalists and independent pollsters. Ideas from the grassroots and opinions in urban as well as rural areas need to be taken into consideration.
DAP needs a think tank from which the leadership can cull ideas generated by a team dedicated to the business of analysing political trends. It needs to move away from depending merely on the opinions and suggestions of one or two MPs.
Having a think tank will enable DAP to source for ideas and suggestions from a wider range of people.
Politics is a game for the fast and furious, and DAP must certainly change its style of play. It can begin by admitting that it made a tactical blunder in Teluk Intan. The great thing about mistakes is that you can learn from them.
FMT
Wednesday, 4 June 2014
Dyana's Shortlived Fame
TO DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud's candidacy in Saturday's by-election in Teluk Intan was a brilliant idea to give a semblance of Malayness to the party's Chinese DNA.
It is a decision that Kit Siang is likely to regret making although he won't publicly admit it.
For the past two weeks during campaigning for the parliamentary seat, Dyana was the pretty face of Malaysian politics and she was popular with press especially the online portals. But her fame was shortlived.
After losing the parliamentary seat by a majority of over 7,000 votes in the general election just a year ago, the Barisan Nasional represented by Gerakan, wrested it back from DAP. Although it was by merely a 238-vote margin, it was a huge swing never before seen in any general or by-election, especially within just a year.
DAP's sense of buoyancy and its confidence that it would retain the seat even if it fielded a young Malay woman was boosted by the notion that this was the way forward for Malaysian politics as the political tsunami in the last two general elections was triggered by Generation Y.
Most observers, too, had predicted an easy win for DAP, with the by-election taking place a week after the party's overwhelming victory in the Bukit Gelugor by-election. And especially against the Barisan Nasional candidate from Gerakan, the party that was virtually wiped out in last year's general election.
To them it counted little that Dyana was a political novice contesting against the Gerakan president himself, Datuk Mah Siew Keong, who at 53 was twice her age.
Mah had also lost twice in Teluk Intan previously although it is his home town.
Despite initial reservations and against the backdrop of Gerakan's humiliation in the last general election, the choice of Mah has turned out to be a masterstroke.
But as the election campaign wore on, it became apparent that an upset win by Barisan was on the cards, especially with Dyana's obvious fumblings and blunders in dealing with issues.
It was the double-edged sword of hudud and Perkasa that did her in.
For a Muslim to come out openly to say that she's against hudud, the Islamic penal code, is surely a no-no among Malay voters.
There must have been plenty of PAS supporters in Teluk Intan who would have voted for her had she only kept her mouth shut on such a religiously sensitive issue. Who is she anyway to oppose hudud?
A columnist from The Star, Joceline Tan, wrote on Monday that Dyana's stand on the issue had offended PAS supporters and some of them had sent text messages, attributing the loss to her objection to hudud and implying that she had been punished not only by voters but by Allah.
I cannot put it better than Joceline.
Another fire the young woman had to put out was on Perkasa, the Malay NGO, of which her mother is a member.
As Joceline put it, "DAP had demonised Perkasa and condemned anyone remotely connected to Datuk Ibrahim Ali (who is Perkasa president)."
A picture of Dyana and her mother with Ibrahim at a Perkasa event also went viral on the internet.
While the Malay voters who had wanted to vote for her didn't do so because of what she said about hudud, the Chinese similarly felt the same because of their repugnance towards Perkasa.
The low voter turnout, only 66.7% as against 80.7% a year ago, also showed that many who took issue with her on these two matters simply stayed at home during the weekend instead of troubling themselves by going to the polling stations.
And why were there so many spoilt votes, one might ask, which at 543 is bigger than the Barisan's majority.
The turnout was definitely disappointingly small for an urban constituency such as Teluk Intan but it was not unexpected.
Many outstation voters did not think it worthwhile to return to their hometown because it was only a by-election where the stakes are not as high as during the general election.
Political analyst Prof Dr James Chin of Monash University of Malaysia explained that normally those living outstation need to have much stronger reasons to return to places where they are registered as voters in a by-election, unlike in a general election.
He said voters take a general election more seriously because they realise there could be a change of government.
I found it amusing when DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng blamed the party's defeat on "voters intimidated by the threats of development politics and gangster politics".
Since when has development politics not been part and parcel of Malaysian elections? By the way, who's playing gangster politics?
And when Guan Eng said the party had no regrets in fielding Dyana – clearly the choice of his father Kit Siang as she is his political secretary – I don't know how many would believe him.
By Azman Ujang, The Sun Daily
It is a decision that Kit Siang is likely to regret making although he won't publicly admit it.
For the past two weeks during campaigning for the parliamentary seat, Dyana was the pretty face of Malaysian politics and she was popular with press especially the online portals. But her fame was shortlived.
After losing the parliamentary seat by a majority of over 7,000 votes in the general election just a year ago, the Barisan Nasional represented by Gerakan, wrested it back from DAP. Although it was by merely a 238-vote margin, it was a huge swing never before seen in any general or by-election, especially within just a year.
DAP's sense of buoyancy and its confidence that it would retain the seat even if it fielded a young Malay woman was boosted by the notion that this was the way forward for Malaysian politics as the political tsunami in the last two general elections was triggered by Generation Y.
Most observers, too, had predicted an easy win for DAP, with the by-election taking place a week after the party's overwhelming victory in the Bukit Gelugor by-election. And especially against the Barisan Nasional candidate from Gerakan, the party that was virtually wiped out in last year's general election.
To them it counted little that Dyana was a political novice contesting against the Gerakan president himself, Datuk Mah Siew Keong, who at 53 was twice her age.
Mah had also lost twice in Teluk Intan previously although it is his home town.
Despite initial reservations and against the backdrop of Gerakan's humiliation in the last general election, the choice of Mah has turned out to be a masterstroke.
But as the election campaign wore on, it became apparent that an upset win by Barisan was on the cards, especially with Dyana's obvious fumblings and blunders in dealing with issues.
It was the double-edged sword of hudud and Perkasa that did her in.
For a Muslim to come out openly to say that she's against hudud, the Islamic penal code, is surely a no-no among Malay voters.
There must have been plenty of PAS supporters in Teluk Intan who would have voted for her had she only kept her mouth shut on such a religiously sensitive issue. Who is she anyway to oppose hudud?
A columnist from The Star, Joceline Tan, wrote on Monday that Dyana's stand on the issue had offended PAS supporters and some of them had sent text messages, attributing the loss to her objection to hudud and implying that she had been punished not only by voters but by Allah.
I cannot put it better than Joceline.
Another fire the young woman had to put out was on Perkasa, the Malay NGO, of which her mother is a member.
As Joceline put it, "DAP had demonised Perkasa and condemned anyone remotely connected to Datuk Ibrahim Ali (who is Perkasa president)."
A picture of Dyana and her mother with Ibrahim at a Perkasa event also went viral on the internet.
While the Malay voters who had wanted to vote for her didn't do so because of what she said about hudud, the Chinese similarly felt the same because of their repugnance towards Perkasa.
The low voter turnout, only 66.7% as against 80.7% a year ago, also showed that many who took issue with her on these two matters simply stayed at home during the weekend instead of troubling themselves by going to the polling stations.
And why were there so many spoilt votes, one might ask, which at 543 is bigger than the Barisan's majority.
The turnout was definitely disappointingly small for an urban constituency such as Teluk Intan but it was not unexpected.
Many outstation voters did not think it worthwhile to return to their hometown because it was only a by-election where the stakes are not as high as during the general election.
Political analyst Prof Dr James Chin of Monash University of Malaysia explained that normally those living outstation need to have much stronger reasons to return to places where they are registered as voters in a by-election, unlike in a general election.
He said voters take a general election more seriously because they realise there could be a change of government.
I found it amusing when DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng blamed the party's defeat on "voters intimidated by the threats of development politics and gangster politics".
Since when has development politics not been part and parcel of Malaysian elections? By the way, who's playing gangster politics?
And when Guan Eng said the party had no regrets in fielding Dyana – clearly the choice of his father Kit Siang as she is his political secretary – I don't know how many would believe him.
By Azman Ujang, The Sun Daily
Falling flat on a pretty face
Preliminary analyses of the Teluk Intan by-election indicate a silver lining in DAP’s loss of the seat as there seems to be a 3% increase in Malay support for the Chinese-dominated party compared to the outcome in the 13th general election.
Nevertheless, an important question to ask is: Why did so many voters from the other major races decide to vote for BN this time around? Chinese support for DAP plunged by 15% and Indian support by 10%.
At first sight, the strategy of fielding Dyana Sofia Mohd Daud for the race seemed a brilliant move to prove that DAP is indeed a multiracial party. Although a political greenhorn, Dyana was the ideal Malay candidate to win a seat that the party was already confident of retaining, considering the large majority it got in the general election. Who could be more Malay than a graduate of UiTM and a member of an Umno household? And she’s pretty to boot.
Unfortunately, that face alone was not enough to help her win the seat although it must have mesmerised some of the attendees at her campaign rallies.
More unfortunate still, DAP did not seem informed enough about her past affiliations.
For starters, the ambitious young woman started getting involved in politics as a member of the BN Supporters’ Club and her decision to switch sides could be construed as lack of loyalty. In this connection, it must be highlighted that Perak is unique in that voters there have learned to be extra vigilant because they paid a hefty price for choosing perfidious characters in the 12th general election.
Additionally, Dyana was observed to be inconsistent in responding to allegations that she played an active role in Perkasa. After vehemently denying that she was not affiliated with the group, she admitted that her mother was a member.
Not many voters have forgotten that Ibrahim Ali won his former Pasir Mas seat on a PAS ticket and Zulkifli Noordin was a founding member of PKR.
A vague manifesto
Dyana and DAP might have taken the by-election for granted for several reasons. It assumed that it already had the Chinese votes in hand. All it needed was about half of the Malay votes or even less. Thus, fielding a Malay woman seemed safe enough.
This over-confidence could have been the reason for its lacklustre manifesto. With Dyana pitching issues such as the GST and other national issues to a predominantly agrarian society showed a huge disjoint with sentiments on the ground.
She can be forgiven for she is still a newbie, but it is rather disappointing to see the DAP and Pakatan machinery’s lack of commitment to the cause. This could have been because of disgruntlement over the selection of the candidate.
There could be a variety of reasons for this attitude, but one sticks out like a sore thumb. Two weeks after Dyana joined DAP in 2012, she was appointed to the high profile position of political secretary to the top man himself, Lim Kit Siang. In less than two years, she became a candidate for a parliament seat. That must have irked some people in the party.
Most important, members of DAP in Teluk Intan might have preferred a candidate who has exhibited loyalty and dedication to the party, not one who is merely a token of DAP’s claimed multiracialism.
DAP and Pakatan have to realise that Malaysians have moved beyond pretty faces, recycled rhetoric and Malay tokenism.
By Kevin Fernandez, FMT
Dr Kevin Fernandez is a senior lecturer at the Political Science Centre for Language Studies and Generic Development, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan
Nevertheless, an important question to ask is: Why did so many voters from the other major races decide to vote for BN this time around? Chinese support for DAP plunged by 15% and Indian support by 10%.
At first sight, the strategy of fielding Dyana Sofia Mohd Daud for the race seemed a brilliant move to prove that DAP is indeed a multiracial party. Although a political greenhorn, Dyana was the ideal Malay candidate to win a seat that the party was already confident of retaining, considering the large majority it got in the general election. Who could be more Malay than a graduate of UiTM and a member of an Umno household? And she’s pretty to boot.
Unfortunately, that face alone was not enough to help her win the seat although it must have mesmerised some of the attendees at her campaign rallies.
More unfortunate still, DAP did not seem informed enough about her past affiliations.
For starters, the ambitious young woman started getting involved in politics as a member of the BN Supporters’ Club and her decision to switch sides could be construed as lack of loyalty. In this connection, it must be highlighted that Perak is unique in that voters there have learned to be extra vigilant because they paid a hefty price for choosing perfidious characters in the 12th general election.
Additionally, Dyana was observed to be inconsistent in responding to allegations that she played an active role in Perkasa. After vehemently denying that she was not affiliated with the group, she admitted that her mother was a member.
Not many voters have forgotten that Ibrahim Ali won his former Pasir Mas seat on a PAS ticket and Zulkifli Noordin was a founding member of PKR.
A vague manifesto
Dyana and DAP might have taken the by-election for granted for several reasons. It assumed that it already had the Chinese votes in hand. All it needed was about half of the Malay votes or even less. Thus, fielding a Malay woman seemed safe enough.
This over-confidence could have been the reason for its lacklustre manifesto. With Dyana pitching issues such as the GST and other national issues to a predominantly agrarian society showed a huge disjoint with sentiments on the ground.
She can be forgiven for she is still a newbie, but it is rather disappointing to see the DAP and Pakatan machinery’s lack of commitment to the cause. This could have been because of disgruntlement over the selection of the candidate.
There could be a variety of reasons for this attitude, but one sticks out like a sore thumb. Two weeks after Dyana joined DAP in 2012, she was appointed to the high profile position of political secretary to the top man himself, Lim Kit Siang. In less than two years, she became a candidate for a parliament seat. That must have irked some people in the party.
Most important, members of DAP in Teluk Intan might have preferred a candidate who has exhibited loyalty and dedication to the party, not one who is merely a token of DAP’s claimed multiracialism.
DAP and Pakatan have to realise that Malaysians have moved beyond pretty faces, recycled rhetoric and Malay tokenism.
By Kevin Fernandez, FMT
Dr Kevin Fernandez is a senior lecturer at the Political Science Centre for Language Studies and Generic Development, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan
Monday, 2 June 2014
Paying the Price of DAP's Overconfidence
DAP's overconfidence in keeping Teluk Intan, and not voters’ disillusionment with Pakatan Rakyat (PR) over various issues, caused the pact the federal seat it wrested six years ago from Barisan Nasional (BN), say analysts.
They told The Malaysian Insider that the time frame of just a year after the 13th general election was too short for the electorate to be disappointed with PR over its handling of key issues which are mostly centred on the state of Selangor, or for Teluk Intan voters to "punish" the opposition coalition.
Moreover, not all Teluk Intan voters reside in Selangor, where PR is in its second term as the state government but is facing resentment over water shortages, the seizure of Malay and Iban Bibles and a controversial private expressway.
"One year of disillusionment pales in comparison to more than 60 years of what is essentially corrupt BN rule so I don't think this argument holds water," political analyst Dr Oh Ei Sun told The Malaysian Insider.
"The lower voter turnout is more the case of them thinking that this by-election would be a sure win for DAP," he added.
Instead, the analyst from Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies believed DAP lost to BN's superior election machinery on the ground.
"DAP usually wins by mass appeal but in a close race like this, the election machinery on the ground really matters, so DAP needs to work hard on strengthening this area," said Oh.
There were also claims that DAP's Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud candidature had caused unhappiness among the party's grassroots who had wanted a local, although this was quickly addressed by its leaders in the early days of the political newbie's campaigning.
Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng also said while some voters might have been disillusioned by PR's problems in Selangor as well as its poor handling of the contentious hudud issue, not all voters from the semi-urban seat are currently living or working in the country's richest and most industrialised state.
He said one of the reasons that contributed to BN's victory was because rival DAP adopted the wrong strategy, adding the party appeared arrogant and overconfident in the run-up to the by-election.
"Their contention that 'a win was in the bag' and gloats over the huge number of people who attended their ceramah as a sign of victory were wrong," he said.
At its final ceramah on the eve of Saturday's polling, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang claimed some 20,000 attended the event; at the same time, news portal Malaysiakini reported that only a measly 70 attended BN's ceramah.
"Towards the end, some leaders did warn that Dyana only had a 47% chance of winning and urged outstation voters to return but that message caught on too late," said Khoo.
Political newbie Dyana was narrowly defeated by BN's Datuk Mah Siew Keong 238 votes.
Mah, who is Gerakan president, obtained 20,157 votes against Dyana's 19,919. There were 550 spoilt votes.
Mah was a two-term Teluk Intan MP after winning the federal seat in the 1999 and 2004 general elections. But since then, he lost to M. Manogaran (in 2008 by 1,830 votes) and Seah Leong Peng in 2013, by 7,313 votes), both of DAP.
Voter turnout was poor this time at 66.7%, compared with 80.7% in GE13 and this proved detrimental to DAP as it was a sign that people do not take by-elections seriously.
"There have to be compelling reasons to return to vote and people don't do that for by-elections. This is unlike a general election, where people know there could be a change of government," said Monash University Malaysia's Professor James Chin.
Both Universiti Putra Malaysia's Dr Jayum Jawan and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Dr Arnold Puyok also felt DAP lacked in efforts to convince outstation voters to return to Teluk Intan to vote.
Jayum was of the opinion that it was due to the spillover feel-good factor from the May 25 Bukit Gelugor by-election, where DAP easily won the seat, while Puyok said DAP was overly focused on Dyana instead of local issues, which were the main concerns of the semi-urban electorate.
But DAP strategist Dr Ong Kian Ming said disillusionment with the performance of PR post-GE13 could not be discounted as cause of the lower voter turnout.
"Pakatan needs to consider the overall direction of the coalition moving forward to avoid voters abstaining from voting in the next GE because of disappointment with both BN and PR," he said.
Ong also did not believe the Teluk Intan by-election was because of voters reacting to problems within the Selangor PR government or the pact's inability to check partner PAS over its intention to implement hudud in Kelantan.
PAS’s intention to put in place an Islamic penal code in the east coast state of Kelantan met with stiff resistance from DAP and Barisan Nasional Chinese-majority parties.
To date, the plan has been shelved pending a study by a joint committee comprising Putrajaya, PAS and the Kelantan government. – June 2, 2014.
-The Malaysian Insider-
They told The Malaysian Insider that the time frame of just a year after the 13th general election was too short for the electorate to be disappointed with PR over its handling of key issues which are mostly centred on the state of Selangor, or for Teluk Intan voters to "punish" the opposition coalition.
Moreover, not all Teluk Intan voters reside in Selangor, where PR is in its second term as the state government but is facing resentment over water shortages, the seizure of Malay and Iban Bibles and a controversial private expressway.
"One year of disillusionment pales in comparison to more than 60 years of what is essentially corrupt BN rule so I don't think this argument holds water," political analyst Dr Oh Ei Sun told The Malaysian Insider.
"The lower voter turnout is more the case of them thinking that this by-election would be a sure win for DAP," he added.
Instead, the analyst from Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies believed DAP lost to BN's superior election machinery on the ground.
"DAP usually wins by mass appeal but in a close race like this, the election machinery on the ground really matters, so DAP needs to work hard on strengthening this area," said Oh.
There were also claims that DAP's Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud candidature had caused unhappiness among the party's grassroots who had wanted a local, although this was quickly addressed by its leaders in the early days of the political newbie's campaigning.
Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng also said while some voters might have been disillusioned by PR's problems in Selangor as well as its poor handling of the contentious hudud issue, not all voters from the semi-urban seat are currently living or working in the country's richest and most industrialised state.
He said one of the reasons that contributed to BN's victory was because rival DAP adopted the wrong strategy, adding the party appeared arrogant and overconfident in the run-up to the by-election.
"Their contention that 'a win was in the bag' and gloats over the huge number of people who attended their ceramah as a sign of victory were wrong," he said.
At its final ceramah on the eve of Saturday's polling, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang claimed some 20,000 attended the event; at the same time, news portal Malaysiakini reported that only a measly 70 attended BN's ceramah.
"Towards the end, some leaders did warn that Dyana only had a 47% chance of winning and urged outstation voters to return but that message caught on too late," said Khoo.
Political newbie Dyana was narrowly defeated by BN's Datuk Mah Siew Keong 238 votes.
Mah, who is Gerakan president, obtained 20,157 votes against Dyana's 19,919. There were 550 spoilt votes.
Mah was a two-term Teluk Intan MP after winning the federal seat in the 1999 and 2004 general elections. But since then, he lost to M. Manogaran (in 2008 by 1,830 votes) and Seah Leong Peng in 2013, by 7,313 votes), both of DAP.
Voter turnout was poor this time at 66.7%, compared with 80.7% in GE13 and this proved detrimental to DAP as it was a sign that people do not take by-elections seriously.
"There have to be compelling reasons to return to vote and people don't do that for by-elections. This is unlike a general election, where people know there could be a change of government," said Monash University Malaysia's Professor James Chin.
Both Universiti Putra Malaysia's Dr Jayum Jawan and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Dr Arnold Puyok also felt DAP lacked in efforts to convince outstation voters to return to Teluk Intan to vote.
Jayum was of the opinion that it was due to the spillover feel-good factor from the May 25 Bukit Gelugor by-election, where DAP easily won the seat, while Puyok said DAP was overly focused on Dyana instead of local issues, which were the main concerns of the semi-urban electorate.
But DAP strategist Dr Ong Kian Ming said disillusionment with the performance of PR post-GE13 could not be discounted as cause of the lower voter turnout.
"Pakatan needs to consider the overall direction of the coalition moving forward to avoid voters abstaining from voting in the next GE because of disappointment with both BN and PR," he said.
Ong also did not believe the Teluk Intan by-election was because of voters reacting to problems within the Selangor PR government or the pact's inability to check partner PAS over its intention to implement hudud in Kelantan.
PAS’s intention to put in place an Islamic penal code in the east coast state of Kelantan met with stiff resistance from DAP and Barisan Nasional Chinese-majority parties.
To date, the plan has been shelved pending a study by a joint committee comprising Putrajaya, PAS and the Kelantan government. – June 2, 2014.
-The Malaysian Insider-
Thursday, 29 May 2014
The Puppet On A String in Teluk Intan
NST reported:
TELUK INTAN: DYANA Sofya Mohd Daud's confusing statements about her stand on hudud and her mother's affiliation with Malay rights group Perkasa show that her actions are controlled by the DAP leadership.
Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow yesterday said although DAP was branding her as the party's candidate with three Bs (beauty, brain and bravery), Dyana Sofya's recent statements revealed her shortcomings.
"Basically, she has no integrity, no honesty and no sincerity.
"These labels are based on our observations on her response to key issues, including her mother's link with Perkasa and her stand on hudud," Teng said at the Gerakan operation centre here.
He said her confusing statements on the two issues showed the 27-year-old DAP candidate for the Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election was under full control of the party's top leadership.
"Her recent statements are confusing and this shows she is being coached by her party handlers. The party leadership has continuously guided her during press conferences. We are worried that she will be remote-controlled by the DAP leadership if she is elected."
Dyana Sofya was quoted as saying last week that she would not vote for Pas' proposed private members' bill that would pave the way for the implementation of the Kelantan Syariah Penal Code (II) 1993.
However, she had insisted that she was not against the Islamic penal code.
"I am not against hudud per se. I am against the implementation of hudud in this situation right now when we are practising selective persecution and also because we are in a multicultural, multireligious and multi-faith country."
On her mother's involvement with Perkasa, Dyana Sofya had, before this, denied knowledge about Yammy Sammat's involvement in it or that she was a member.
Last Monday, however, Dyana Sofya said her mother was once involved in Perkasa but had quit before its first annual general meeting.
Her statement came a day after Gopeng Wanita Umno head Datuk Hamidah Osman had revealed that Yammy had been involved in Perkasa.
"In her manifesto, Dyana Sofya raised the issue of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
"However, she should remember that opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim support GST."
TELUK INTAN: DYANA Sofya Mohd Daud's confusing statements about her stand on hudud and her mother's affiliation with Malay rights group Perkasa show that her actions are controlled by the DAP leadership.
Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow yesterday said although DAP was branding her as the party's candidate with three Bs (beauty, brain and bravery), Dyana Sofya's recent statements revealed her shortcomings.
"Basically, she has no integrity, no honesty and no sincerity.
"These labels are based on our observations on her response to key issues, including her mother's link with Perkasa and her stand on hudud," Teng said at the Gerakan operation centre here.
He said her confusing statements on the two issues showed the 27-year-old DAP candidate for the Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election was under full control of the party's top leadership.
"Her recent statements are confusing and this shows she is being coached by her party handlers. The party leadership has continuously guided her during press conferences. We are worried that she will be remote-controlled by the DAP leadership if she is elected."
Dyana Sofya was quoted as saying last week that she would not vote for Pas' proposed private members' bill that would pave the way for the implementation of the Kelantan Syariah Penal Code (II) 1993.
However, she had insisted that she was not against the Islamic penal code.
"I am not against hudud per se. I am against the implementation of hudud in this situation right now when we are practising selective persecution and also because we are in a multicultural, multireligious and multi-faith country."
On her mother's involvement with Perkasa, Dyana Sofya had, before this, denied knowledge about Yammy Sammat's involvement in it or that she was a member.
Last Monday, however, Dyana Sofya said her mother was once involved in Perkasa but had quit before its first annual general meeting.
Her statement came a day after Gopeng Wanita Umno head Datuk Hamidah Osman had revealed that Yammy had been involved in Perkasa.
"In her manifesto, Dyana Sofya raised the issue of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
"However, she should remember that opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim support GST."
MUST READ!!! Beware of the 'Princess'
Iskandar Dzulkarnian wrote in FMT:
The antics of Umno Youth who seemed to act like organised thugs in the storming of the Penang State Assembly should not be blamed on Umno and BN for no apparent reason.
Neither should they be blamed for the manifestation of unmitigated gangsterism, racism, hooliganism, foul language, threats, destruction of property, the baying for blood, sexism, fake photographs, rowdiness and mob violence by motorbike gangs plaguing the current Teluk Intan by-election campaign.
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has issued a statement that BN does not condone violence or sabotage. Umno is very neutral since it not contesting any seats and therefore have no reason whatsoever to cause any ruckus. More likely the outbreak of violence should be attributed to Independents or sympathetic BN supporters.
Unlike DAP who wants to conquer every seat, Umno is more ‘inclusive’ to allow other coalition parties and even Independents a fighting chance to contest.
Is it a wonder why more and more NGO’s, Independents and other mosquito parties are starting to support BN?
Hitting below the belt
Umno is simply annoyed that DAP is fielding a ‘SYT’ (sweet young thing) to battle against a political giant like Mah Siew Keong.
That is totally unfair as Mah is more than twice her age and twice her political experience.
Remember, Gerakan is considered a ‘Godzilla’ in Malaysian politics compared to DAP which used to be a mosquito party many years back.Mah is the president of the prestigious Gerakan party and has also the experience of losing twice, so voters should give him a third chance to win back a seat.
The Home Minister has pointed out that Dyana’s beauty is only skin deep, and she only looks beautiful in the media and not in real life.
Meanwhile, the Sports and Youth Minister insists that she lacks political experience which Teluk Intan voters should reconsider.
In today’s dog eat dog world, experience is everything and Mah is everything that Dyana is not.
Used as a political tool
Umno leaders seriously believe that she is a traitor to the core who sold her race out. How can she even be seen gallivanting with the enemy DAP, let alone become one of their future leaders?
Where are the true blue blooded Malays going to hide their faces?
As an UITM graduate who benefited from the NEP, she should return the favour to Umno by not contesting, and be used as a tool by DAP to confuse Teluk Intan voters from voting for a great Chinese leader like Mah.
If she really wants to be in politics, she could easily have joined Puteri Umno or Perkasa like her mom, and become a divisional leader instead, and God willing, she may one day lead Wanita Umno by the time she touches 60 years old.
After all, there are no shortcuts when it comes to climbing up the political ladder as even cows have to wait their turn.
But no, she wants to skyrocket herself up the political ladder on the DAP rocket vehicle, throwing caution to the wind and not paying due heed to her race, religion and royalty and her rightful place in the kitchen.
Many Umno leaders are sad, dejected and genuinely disappointed that poor Dyana has been deceived by her political masters to divide the racial unity of Teluk Intan.
They also know that one day DAP is going to dump her like a hot potato, once they have no more use for her.
The Teluk Intan dilemma
Today, Teluk Intan voters especially the Chinese are faced with a great dilemma to either vote in a great experienced Chinese leader or an inexperienced Malay novice with a pretty smile.
How can DAP subject Teluk Intan voters with such great mental torture? Have they no shame?
DAP must also stop accusing an innocent BN or Umno for all the slander levelled against Dyana. She deserves it for her stupidity.
The bikini clad photos of someone who looks like Dyana, found in mosques and in the villages, is definitely not the work of BN or their agents. Because if it is, BN would have unreservedly admitted it!
Even Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s ‘hilarious joke’ to Rela members have been taken out of context by DAP leaders. He had merely called on Rela members to exercise their right to vote, but who they vote for is not relevant.
He also explained that every BN MP’s has a financial allocation, so if BN won, Rela members could expect free uniforms.
That’s why for Teluk Intan voters, a BN win will be very advantageous for the townsfolk.
Is Dyana worth her weight in salt?
Seriously, other than her beauty, what else does Dyana possess? Brains!? But there’s no proof of that!
Experience!? Definitely not if compared to great experienced Umno leaders of high calibre like Wanita chief Shahrizat who is an economic wizard. And unlike the gutsy Gerakan candidate Mah, Dyana would not have the marbles to stand up to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Sadly, many voters in Teluk Intan are now beginning to think that Dyana is a candidate who can make a difference.
They think that she possesses many qualities of a natural leader. Not only is she young and beautiful, she has brains, personality, influence and fiercely independent.
She comes through as trustworthy and many believe that she would be able to bridge the different races together in peace and harmony.
In short Teluk Intan has a new Princess Dyana to call their very own.
Umno leaders however think that Dyana should do the right thing before it’s too late, and inform the EC to drop out of the race.
I am sure EC would give her due consideration since it is not a last minute stunt like the Bukit Gelugor Independent candidate Abu Backer.
Remember, if Gerakan Mah wins, Teluk Intan will become a gem of a town. Rela members will get new uniforms. And there will be no more Mat Rempits revving their motorbike exhausts at ‘SYT’s.’
The town will be cleaner, lesser traffic jams and there will be much development brought on by BN as the town is just a stone throw away from Lumut Port.
However, if DAP wins, Teluk Intan will become a royal town with a fairy tale princess. There will be more men loitering around her constituency office much to the chagrin of their jealous wives.
The antics of Umno Youth who seemed to act like organised thugs in the storming of the Penang State Assembly should not be blamed on Umno and BN for no apparent reason.
Neither should they be blamed for the manifestation of unmitigated gangsterism, racism, hooliganism, foul language, threats, destruction of property, the baying for blood, sexism, fake photographs, rowdiness and mob violence by motorbike gangs plaguing the current Teluk Intan by-election campaign.
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has issued a statement that BN does not condone violence or sabotage. Umno is very neutral since it not contesting any seats and therefore have no reason whatsoever to cause any ruckus. More likely the outbreak of violence should be attributed to Independents or sympathetic BN supporters.
Unlike DAP who wants to conquer every seat, Umno is more ‘inclusive’ to allow other coalition parties and even Independents a fighting chance to contest.
Is it a wonder why more and more NGO’s, Independents and other mosquito parties are starting to support BN?
Hitting below the belt
Umno is simply annoyed that DAP is fielding a ‘SYT’ (sweet young thing) to battle against a political giant like Mah Siew Keong.
That is totally unfair as Mah is more than twice her age and twice her political experience.
Remember, Gerakan is considered a ‘Godzilla’ in Malaysian politics compared to DAP which used to be a mosquito party many years back.Mah is the president of the prestigious Gerakan party and has also the experience of losing twice, so voters should give him a third chance to win back a seat.
The Home Minister has pointed out that Dyana’s beauty is only skin deep, and she only looks beautiful in the media and not in real life.
Meanwhile, the Sports and Youth Minister insists that she lacks political experience which Teluk Intan voters should reconsider.
In today’s dog eat dog world, experience is everything and Mah is everything that Dyana is not.
Used as a political tool
Umno leaders seriously believe that she is a traitor to the core who sold her race out. How can she even be seen gallivanting with the enemy DAP, let alone become one of their future leaders?
Where are the true blue blooded Malays going to hide their faces?
As an UITM graduate who benefited from the NEP, she should return the favour to Umno by not contesting, and be used as a tool by DAP to confuse Teluk Intan voters from voting for a great Chinese leader like Mah.
If she really wants to be in politics, she could easily have joined Puteri Umno or Perkasa like her mom, and become a divisional leader instead, and God willing, she may one day lead Wanita Umno by the time she touches 60 years old.
After all, there are no shortcuts when it comes to climbing up the political ladder as even cows have to wait their turn.
But no, she wants to skyrocket herself up the political ladder on the DAP rocket vehicle, throwing caution to the wind and not paying due heed to her race, religion and royalty and her rightful place in the kitchen.
Many Umno leaders are sad, dejected and genuinely disappointed that poor Dyana has been deceived by her political masters to divide the racial unity of Teluk Intan.
They also know that one day DAP is going to dump her like a hot potato, once they have no more use for her.
The Teluk Intan dilemma
Today, Teluk Intan voters especially the Chinese are faced with a great dilemma to either vote in a great experienced Chinese leader or an inexperienced Malay novice with a pretty smile.
How can DAP subject Teluk Intan voters with such great mental torture? Have they no shame?
DAP must also stop accusing an innocent BN or Umno for all the slander levelled against Dyana. She deserves it for her stupidity.
The bikini clad photos of someone who looks like Dyana, found in mosques and in the villages, is definitely not the work of BN or their agents. Because if it is, BN would have unreservedly admitted it!
Even Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s ‘hilarious joke’ to Rela members have been taken out of context by DAP leaders. He had merely called on Rela members to exercise their right to vote, but who they vote for is not relevant.
He also explained that every BN MP’s has a financial allocation, so if BN won, Rela members could expect free uniforms.
That’s why for Teluk Intan voters, a BN win will be very advantageous for the townsfolk.
Is Dyana worth her weight in salt?
Seriously, other than her beauty, what else does Dyana possess? Brains!? But there’s no proof of that!
Experience!? Definitely not if compared to great experienced Umno leaders of high calibre like Wanita chief Shahrizat who is an economic wizard. And unlike the gutsy Gerakan candidate Mah, Dyana would not have the marbles to stand up to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Sadly, many voters in Teluk Intan are now beginning to think that Dyana is a candidate who can make a difference.
They think that she possesses many qualities of a natural leader. Not only is she young and beautiful, she has brains, personality, influence and fiercely independent.
She comes through as trustworthy and many believe that she would be able to bridge the different races together in peace and harmony.
In short Teluk Intan has a new Princess Dyana to call their very own.
Umno leaders however think that Dyana should do the right thing before it’s too late, and inform the EC to drop out of the race.
I am sure EC would give her due consideration since it is not a last minute stunt like the Bukit Gelugor Independent candidate Abu Backer.
Remember, if Gerakan Mah wins, Teluk Intan will become a gem of a town. Rela members will get new uniforms. And there will be no more Mat Rempits revving their motorbike exhausts at ‘SYT’s.’
The town will be cleaner, lesser traffic jams and there will be much development brought on by BN as the town is just a stone throw away from Lumut Port.
However, if DAP wins, Teluk Intan will become a royal town with a fairy tale princess. There will be more men loitering around her constituency office much to the chagrin of their jealous wives.
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
Penang BN chief: Dyana '3N' not '3B' candidate
TELUK INTAN Penang BN chairperson Teng Chang Yeow described DAP Teluk Intan by-election candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud as a "3N" candidate - "No integrity, No honesty and No sincerity".
Teng gave Dyana the "3N" label after chiding her for being inconsistent on her mother's Perkasa membership and hudud issues.
"Instead of the '3B' image (Beauty, Brains and Bravery) created of her by DAP, she has been turned into a '3N' frontline leader," he told a press conference at the Gerakan by-election operations centre in Teluk Intan today.
However, Teng clarified that he was not making a personal attack on Dyana (left), but blamed the DAP leadership.
"When people asked about her mother's Perkasa membership, Dyana was not the first who answered, but it was (DAP publicity chief) Tony Pua who snatched the microphone," he said.
DAP has been promoting Dyana with the "3B"
criteria, before she was criticised for flip-flopping on the controversy surrounding her mother Yammy Samat's Perkasa membership.
She was even called a "liar" by Gerakan and MCA Youth yesterday.
Teng also said Dyana was coached and guided in her replies to the media at press conferences.
"If she gets elected, she will be remote-controlled by the (DAP) leaders.
"Teluk Intan voters do not deserve to have a '3N' and remote-controlled leader," he said.
Malaysiakini
Teng gave Dyana the "3N" label after chiding her for being inconsistent on her mother's Perkasa membership and hudud issues.
"Instead of the '3B' image (Beauty, Brains and Bravery) created of her by DAP, she has been turned into a '3N' frontline leader," he told a press conference at the Gerakan by-election operations centre in Teluk Intan today.
However, Teng clarified that he was not making a personal attack on Dyana (left), but blamed the DAP leadership.
"When people asked about her mother's Perkasa membership, Dyana was not the first who answered, but it was (DAP publicity chief) Tony Pua who snatched the microphone," he said.
DAP has been promoting Dyana with the "3B"
criteria, before she was criticised for flip-flopping on the controversy surrounding her mother Yammy Samat's Perkasa membership.
She was even called a "liar" by Gerakan and MCA Youth yesterday.
Teng also said Dyana was coached and guided in her replies to the media at press conferences.
"If she gets elected, she will be remote-controlled by the (DAP) leaders.
"Teluk Intan voters do not deserve to have a '3N' and remote-controlled leader," he said.
Malaysiakini
‘Mah’s election manifesto has more substance’
PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Mah Siew Keong has more substance in election manifesto than first time candidate DAP’s Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud for the Teluk Intan by-election.
Dyana’s national opinion maker manifesto appears to be short on details while it is obvious that Mah has the advantage in having a clear value proposition for the Teluk Intan voters, revealed NGO Kuasa today.
Kuasa focuses on organisational development for politicians, activists and their groups through engagement processes utilising social media and strategic messaging.
Comparing the manifestos of both the candidates, Kuasa chief executive Praba Ganesan said both manifestos were issued late.
Mah’s manifesto was launched on May 26, a day before early voting, while Dyana’s manifesto came out only midday yesterday, halfway through early voting.
Praba said the delay could only be attributed to being tactical and out-waiting each other, rather than allowing enough time for those promises to be dissected by the public and media.
Commenting further, while the BN manifesto for Teluk Intan leans on the 2013 state general election manifesto, it was still filled with more specific promises for the constituency, said Praba.
Mah, in his manifesto, has promised to turn the area into a manufacturing, agricultural and food hub for lower Perak.
“Perak BN last year listed Teluk Intan as one of the five areas earmarked as economic zones, therefore this appears to be a realisation of the previous promise which was largely not executed,” said Praba in a statement.
Praba then commented that Mah’s university pledge was reminiscent of Mahathirist thinking as BN has been known to promise and deliver universities as part of election pledges.
The promise on higher internet penetration on the other hand was populist, as state governments have had challenges in ensuring reliable WiFi zones in their urban areas.
“It would be interesting to see if Mah can come good with this promise considering the demographical realities of Teluk Intan.
“The listing of the Menara Condong as a Unesco heritage site does add to an interesting list of promises,” he added.
Similar sentiments
As for Dyana’s manifesto, Kuasa said her objection to the goods and services tax (GST), mismanagement of federal funds and corruption appear as the pillars of her manifesto.
“While they are admirable, there are enough DAP and other Pakatan Rakyat MPs in parliament echoing the same sentiment.
“While the problems caused by these issues were explained by Dyana, she did not detail how she offers a fresh or different dimension to the cause.
Praba said Dyana should have given grounds on why she would raise more awareness or inspire young people to participate in the fight against the three issues.
On her pledge to work with local businesses to create more jobs and opportunities for young people, Praba said this was possible since DAP does hold sway with small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
However, her promise to only live in Teluk Intan if she wins the by-election sends the wrong message, said Praba.
“Telling voters that she will only commit to the constituency if she is voted in suggests that the constituency is undesirable otherwise,” he said.
FMT
Dyana’s national opinion maker manifesto appears to be short on details while it is obvious that Mah has the advantage in having a clear value proposition for the Teluk Intan voters, revealed NGO Kuasa today.
Kuasa focuses on organisational development for politicians, activists and their groups through engagement processes utilising social media and strategic messaging.
Comparing the manifestos of both the candidates, Kuasa chief executive Praba Ganesan said both manifestos were issued late.
Mah’s manifesto was launched on May 26, a day before early voting, while Dyana’s manifesto came out only midday yesterday, halfway through early voting.
Praba said the delay could only be attributed to being tactical and out-waiting each other, rather than allowing enough time for those promises to be dissected by the public and media.
Commenting further, while the BN manifesto for Teluk Intan leans on the 2013 state general election manifesto, it was still filled with more specific promises for the constituency, said Praba.
Mah, in his manifesto, has promised to turn the area into a manufacturing, agricultural and food hub for lower Perak.
“Perak BN last year listed Teluk Intan as one of the five areas earmarked as economic zones, therefore this appears to be a realisation of the previous promise which was largely not executed,” said Praba in a statement.
Praba then commented that Mah’s university pledge was reminiscent of Mahathirist thinking as BN has been known to promise and deliver universities as part of election pledges.
The promise on higher internet penetration on the other hand was populist, as state governments have had challenges in ensuring reliable WiFi zones in their urban areas.
“It would be interesting to see if Mah can come good with this promise considering the demographical realities of Teluk Intan.
“The listing of the Menara Condong as a Unesco heritage site does add to an interesting list of promises,” he added.
Similar sentiments
As for Dyana’s manifesto, Kuasa said her objection to the goods and services tax (GST), mismanagement of federal funds and corruption appear as the pillars of her manifesto.
“While they are admirable, there are enough DAP and other Pakatan Rakyat MPs in parliament echoing the same sentiment.
“While the problems caused by these issues were explained by Dyana, she did not detail how she offers a fresh or different dimension to the cause.
Praba said Dyana should have given grounds on why she would raise more awareness or inspire young people to participate in the fight against the three issues.
On her pledge to work with local businesses to create more jobs and opportunities for young people, Praba said this was possible since DAP does hold sway with small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
However, her promise to only live in Teluk Intan if she wins the by-election sends the wrong message, said Praba.
“Telling voters that she will only commit to the constituency if she is voted in suggests that the constituency is undesirable otherwise,” he said.
FMT
The ‘Dyana, Yammy and Perkasa show’: A Teluk Intan production
The DAP may now have to eat its own words after recent confirmation by Yammy Samat, the mother of its Teluk Intan by-election candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, that the former is still a member of Malay right-wing NGO Perkasa.
With the party already facing an uphill battle to win the hearts of some 23,000 Malay voters in Teluk Intan, Yammy's admission would most certainly be used as campaign fodder to weaken support of the Chinese community towards DAP.
They may now have to pay for their aggressive attacks against MCA last month when pictures surfaced of the Chinese party's Kajang by-election candidate Datuk Chew Mei Fun with a Perkasa representative.
DAP had gone to town lambasting MCA and Chew for outwardly criticising Perkasa but quietly sitting beside its representative in the BN setting.
Online portal Malaysiakini quoted Yammy as saying today (May 27) that she would officially quit Perkasa despite being an inactive member since 2008.
"I hearby declare I quit Perkasa, if there is going to be so much discussion on my membership," Yammy reportedly said during a press conference with Dyana and DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang at the party's by-election operation centre in Teluk Intan.
Yammy's affiliation with Perkasa has been highlighted by pro-Umno bloggers since last week, based on an initial photograph of her and Dyana flanking Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali at a dinner with Guar Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Yammy today broke her silence on the issue after repeated queries from the media to her daughter, to which Dyana had initially denied the affiliation.
Perkasa deputy president Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar on May 21 claimed that Yammy was once appointed to head Perkasa's Women Wing -- the Wiranita Perkasa -- but only held the position for five months.
"She left because she could not commit to the organisation after moving away from Perak," said Abdul Rahman, as quoted by Sinar Harian Online.
Asked for comment the same day, Dyana reportedly said: "My mother was not even in the first AGM of Perkasa ... she did not join Perkasa. She was there with a group of friends and then she was not even at the first AGM (held in March, 2010)."
"She did not even affiliate herself with Perkasa after that," said Dyana, adding that she is also unaware if her mother had held any position in Perkasa.
Photo journalist Minaq Jinggo, who covered Dyana's press conference, in a blog posting on May 25, however, pointed out that he had also covered a Perkasa event at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman on Oct 21, 2008, where both Yammy and Dyana were present to assist with its membership drive.
"I have been following the campaign of this Malay DAP candidate (Dyana) from Day One and I felt cheated by her blatant lie," he said.
Dyana had earlier denied that her mother had links with Perkasa, claiming that to her knowledge there was none.
She had today attributed the situation to a "misunderstanding" which she had clarified with her mother, in response to claims that she was a "liar" for denying the matter when it was first brought to her attention.
"I was not sure whether she had filled in the membership form or not, and if her membership had started after the first annual general meeting.
"I knew she was no longer involved in Perkasa before its first AGM. To me, probably only after the first AGM do they become real members," said Dyana.
Yammy, who is also an Umno member, has been by her daughter's side since Dyana was announced as the DAP candidate against BN's Datuk Mah Siew Keong and she had even openly rebuked former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for criticising her parenting skills.
As a mother, it does not come as a surprise that Yammy is willing to compromise her own political stand for her daughter's future.
It would also be unfair to judge Dyana solely based on Yammy's past associations as how many 27-year-olds (this writer included) can claim to share entirely the "same" beliefs as her mother?
More relevantly, the difference between MCA's Chew being caught on camera with Perkasa and Dyana's is that the Chinese party was actively speaking out against the NGO but for Dyana, it was already established that she and her mother were on different sides of the political spectrum.
Her affiliation to Perkasa is not really a reflection on Dyana's political stand.
Whether or not Yammy was ever a Perkasa member should not have any impact on Dyana but the DAP must also expect a tit-for-tat response to its own outcry against Chew.
Another question that is relevant though is, why the long silence and denial from Dyana in the first place before coming clean on the matter?
Since the first day of campaigning, Dyana has been accompanied by not only her mother but also Lim and other senior DAP leaders who at times were seen to "guide" her answers to the press.
If indeed she had been "guided" to not tell the whole truth from the beginning, then it is clearly a mistake that could cost the DAP its chance to retain the seat.
- The Ant Daily -
With the party already facing an uphill battle to win the hearts of some 23,000 Malay voters in Teluk Intan, Yammy's admission would most certainly be used as campaign fodder to weaken support of the Chinese community towards DAP.
They may now have to pay for their aggressive attacks against MCA last month when pictures surfaced of the Chinese party's Kajang by-election candidate Datuk Chew Mei Fun with a Perkasa representative.
DAP had gone to town lambasting MCA and Chew for outwardly criticising Perkasa but quietly sitting beside its representative in the BN setting.
Online portal Malaysiakini quoted Yammy as saying today (May 27) that she would officially quit Perkasa despite being an inactive member since 2008.
"I hearby declare I quit Perkasa, if there is going to be so much discussion on my membership," Yammy reportedly said during a press conference with Dyana and DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang at the party's by-election operation centre in Teluk Intan.
Yammy's affiliation with Perkasa has been highlighted by pro-Umno bloggers since last week, based on an initial photograph of her and Dyana flanking Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali at a dinner with Guar Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Yammy today broke her silence on the issue after repeated queries from the media to her daughter, to which Dyana had initially denied the affiliation.
Perkasa deputy president Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar on May 21 claimed that Yammy was once appointed to head Perkasa's Women Wing -- the Wiranita Perkasa -- but only held the position for five months.
"She left because she could not commit to the organisation after moving away from Perak," said Abdul Rahman, as quoted by Sinar Harian Online.
Asked for comment the same day, Dyana reportedly said: "My mother was not even in the first AGM of Perkasa ... she did not join Perkasa. She was there with a group of friends and then she was not even at the first AGM (held in March, 2010)."
"She did not even affiliate herself with Perkasa after that," said Dyana, adding that she is also unaware if her mother had held any position in Perkasa.
Photo journalist Minaq Jinggo, who covered Dyana's press conference, in a blog posting on May 25, however, pointed out that he had also covered a Perkasa event at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman on Oct 21, 2008, where both Yammy and Dyana were present to assist with its membership drive.
"I have been following the campaign of this Malay DAP candidate (Dyana) from Day One and I felt cheated by her blatant lie," he said.
Dyana had earlier denied that her mother had links with Perkasa, claiming that to her knowledge there was none.
She had today attributed the situation to a "misunderstanding" which she had clarified with her mother, in response to claims that she was a "liar" for denying the matter when it was first brought to her attention.
"I was not sure whether she had filled in the membership form or not, and if her membership had started after the first annual general meeting.
"I knew she was no longer involved in Perkasa before its first AGM. To me, probably only after the first AGM do they become real members," said Dyana.
Yammy, who is also an Umno member, has been by her daughter's side since Dyana was announced as the DAP candidate against BN's Datuk Mah Siew Keong and she had even openly rebuked former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for criticising her parenting skills.
As a mother, it does not come as a surprise that Yammy is willing to compromise her own political stand for her daughter's future.
It would also be unfair to judge Dyana solely based on Yammy's past associations as how many 27-year-olds (this writer included) can claim to share entirely the "same" beliefs as her mother?
More relevantly, the difference between MCA's Chew being caught on camera with Perkasa and Dyana's is that the Chinese party was actively speaking out against the NGO but for Dyana, it was already established that she and her mother were on different sides of the political spectrum.
Her affiliation to Perkasa is not really a reflection on Dyana's political stand.
Whether or not Yammy was ever a Perkasa member should not have any impact on Dyana but the DAP must also expect a tit-for-tat response to its own outcry against Chew.
Another question that is relevant though is, why the long silence and denial from Dyana in the first place before coming clean on the matter?
Since the first day of campaigning, Dyana has been accompanied by not only her mother but also Lim and other senior DAP leaders who at times were seen to "guide" her answers to the press.
If indeed she had been "guided" to not tell the whole truth from the beginning, then it is clearly a mistake that could cost the DAP its chance to retain the seat.
- The Ant Daily -
"Not Straightforward and Frank" Guess Who?
Mukhriz puzzled by Dyana's many faces
Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir is puzzled over the many posters of DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud for the Teluk Intan by-election.
He said this gives rise to the question - which is the real DAP candidate?
"I see many posters... The photos are different.
"There are those with her wearing a tudung (headscarf)....
there are those with her dressed in a corporate outfit
and also those with her wearing a baju kurung.
"Why I am saying this is because to choose a parliamentarian is not easy, you must know the person," Mukhriz was quoted in a report published on Umno Online.
"We become confused. Which is the real Dyana. Lawyer or not a lawyer... I am confused.
"Imagine within two weeks, we have become so confused," he added.
Pick Mah for service
Mukhriz said the people of Teluk Intan cannot have a MP who is not straightforward and frank.
Elected representatives, he added, are those who worked for the people and not for themselves.
He said the person must understand the problems faced by the people and must go down to the ground to hear their grouses.
"I am sure if BN candidate Mah Siew Keong is chosen, he will serve the people and they will not be disappointed," he added.
Furthermore, Mukhriz said the BN formula was unique and successful in protecting the interests of all races in the country.
"In the opposition, there are three big parties. Even so, they do not agree on many things and have conflicting stands. On the other hand, BN has always represented all races.
"The proof being, this time Mah is from the Tionghua community, and those who come to campaign for him are from Umno, MIC, MCA, IPF and others... That is the BN formula," he said.
"If the other camp claims that it is great for fielding a Malay candidate, that is nothing out of the ordinary for us... This (fielding candidates of different races) has been practised since the past in BN," he added.
Malaysiakini
Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir is puzzled over the many posters of DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud for the Teluk Intan by-election.
He said this gives rise to the question - which is the real DAP candidate?
"I see many posters... The photos are different.
and also those with her wearing a baju kurung.
"Why I am saying this is because to choose a parliamentarian is not easy, you must know the person," Mukhriz was quoted in a report published on Umno Online.
"We become confused. Which is the real Dyana. Lawyer or not a lawyer... I am confused.
"Imagine within two weeks, we have become so confused," he added.
Pick Mah for service
Mukhriz said the people of Teluk Intan cannot have a MP who is not straightforward and frank.
Elected representatives, he added, are those who worked for the people and not for themselves.
He said the person must understand the problems faced by the people and must go down to the ground to hear their grouses.
"I am sure if BN candidate Mah Siew Keong is chosen, he will serve the people and they will not be disappointed," he added.
Furthermore, Mukhriz said the BN formula was unique and successful in protecting the interests of all races in the country.
"In the opposition, there are three big parties. Even so, they do not agree on many things and have conflicting stands. On the other hand, BN has always represented all races.
"The proof being, this time Mah is from the Tionghua community, and those who come to campaign for him are from Umno, MIC, MCA, IPF and others... That is the BN formula," he said.
"If the other camp claims that it is great for fielding a Malay candidate, that is nothing out of the ordinary for us... This (fielding candidates of different races) has been practised since the past in BN," he added.
Malaysiakini
Opposing Views on Dyana. Who is correct?
Here are two views from Malaysiakini readers.
Asitis: Yes, it seems that DAP Teluk Intan candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud made a mistake here. But I would not go so far as to say that she flip-flopped.
While many politicians flip-flopped, i.e. issue statements that contradict what they said earlier for their own selfish interest, if you consider it, Dyana stands to gain nothing out of her latest statement.
She might even lose the trust of her supporters as evidenced by this news report. But the thing is, she has the guts to tell the truth, even if the truth does not look good on her. How many politicians dare to be as truthful as she is?
How many politicians would do what she did so close to election day? So she made a honest mistake. Perhaps her mind wasn't clear at that time. Who can blame her? A political newbie on a busy campaign trail, being tired and all.
But the important thing is that once she realised her mistake, she corrected it without any hesitation, without giving any excuse. Just the plain, simple truth out of her. This itself proves her trustworthiness.
Maslina: First Dyana said she and her mother had nothing to do with Perkasa. Then when confronted with only one photo, she flip-flopped and told the "truth".
First Dyana told everyone she's a lawyer. Then when confronted with Bar Council list in which her name is absent, only then she told the "truth" that she's a "non-practising" lawyer, whatever that means.
First she said when Tunku Abdul Aziz left DAP, she hadn't even joined DAP. Then when confronted with the fact that she actually joined DAP before Tunku Aziz left, she kept silent. Are all these “truths” really true?
Seriously, only 27, two years in politics and already doing triple flips. What kind of candidate is DAP giving to voters here?
Asitis: Yes, it seems that DAP Teluk Intan candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud made a mistake here. But I would not go so far as to say that she flip-flopped.
While many politicians flip-flopped, i.e. issue statements that contradict what they said earlier for their own selfish interest, if you consider it, Dyana stands to gain nothing out of her latest statement.
She might even lose the trust of her supporters as evidenced by this news report. But the thing is, she has the guts to tell the truth, even if the truth does not look good on her. How many politicians dare to be as truthful as she is?
How many politicians would do what she did so close to election day? So she made a honest mistake. Perhaps her mind wasn't clear at that time. Who can blame her? A political newbie on a busy campaign trail, being tired and all.
But the important thing is that once she realised her mistake, she corrected it without any hesitation, without giving any excuse. Just the plain, simple truth out of her. This itself proves her trustworthiness.
Maslina: First Dyana said she and her mother had nothing to do with Perkasa. Then when confronted with only one photo, she flip-flopped and told the "truth".
First Dyana told everyone she's a lawyer. Then when confronted with Bar Council list in which her name is absent, only then she told the "truth" that she's a "non-practising" lawyer, whatever that means.
First she said when Tunku Abdul Aziz left DAP, she hadn't even joined DAP. Then when confronted with the fact that she actually joined DAP before Tunku Aziz left, she kept silent. Are all these “truths” really true?
Seriously, only 27, two years in politics and already doing triple flips. What kind of candidate is DAP giving to voters here?
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
The gamble with Dyana may backfire
The Bukit Gelugor by-election this Sunday is a forgone conclusion. There was no necessity for any other party or independent to stand against DAP’s Ramkarpal Singh Deo. His late father’s reputation alone is more than sufficient to annihilate any competitor for the parliamentary seat. Period! It would have also saved tax payers their hard earned money.
But the Teluk Intan by-election on May 31, will be a different ball game altogether. Though it had been a DAP seat in the past two general elections, the outcome this time around may not be in its favour.
In trying to portray and justify itself as as a champion of all races, DAP believes that having a young Malay girl on its side will be enough to hoodwink the Malay voters.
DAP has and will always be a Chinese centric party. The non-Chinese holding key positions in the party are few.
Basically it is a family run political party with little room, especially for the Malay members. It is a pity that it is still in a state of slumber after all these years.
The Chinese in Teluk Intan are expected to vote for DAP as they are besotted with the ‘Rocket’ regardless of who stands in the by-election. It will be interesting to see if the Malay voters will be taken in by the DAP fielding greenhorn Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, 27.
Will the Malays be gullible and vote for her, rather than the party, just because she is a Malay?
The Malays must awaken to reality that DAP can never defend their rights in this country. All the DAP wants is an immediate umbrella of meritocracy implemented in all areas.
The Chinese are already in control of all major industries in Malaysia, from finance, manufacturing right up to retail. The economy is in their palms. Imagine the floodgates opening to them.
Other races will be brought to their knees as they will by default ‘fail’ to meet the financial strength of the Chinese.
The Malay voters in Teluk Intan must send a clear message to DAP that putting up a wall paper like Dyana will not be able to mask its cunning, hidden agenda.
After all, how much has DAP done for the Indians and Malays in Penang? The middle-class have been pushed further down the social stratum and the state economy is dominated by the Chinese.
From the voter composition point of view, if the Malays vote against Dyana, DAP will then be at the mercy of the Indian voters.
With 19% Indians, the Teluk Intan Indians will be the kingmakers. The only worry, as usual, with the Indians is that are unrealistically emotional and have a herd mentality.
They lack the political and business acumen to make decisions to their advantage. Thus DAP and its allies have for long had an easy way out with them. Throw them crumbs and they will shut up. They may well be drooling over Dyana, forgetting their political and economical struggles.
It will be another mistake if the Indians and a fraction of the Malay voters pick DAP.
The Teluk Intan people have a golden opportunity to right the two wrongs done over the past two elections. The voter composition in Teluk Intan is 42% Chinese, 38% Malays, 19% Indians and the rest, others.
FMT
But the Teluk Intan by-election on May 31, will be a different ball game altogether. Though it had been a DAP seat in the past two general elections, the outcome this time around may not be in its favour.
In trying to portray and justify itself as as a champion of all races, DAP believes that having a young Malay girl on its side will be enough to hoodwink the Malay voters.
DAP has and will always be a Chinese centric party. The non-Chinese holding key positions in the party are few.
Basically it is a family run political party with little room, especially for the Malay members. It is a pity that it is still in a state of slumber after all these years.
The Chinese in Teluk Intan are expected to vote for DAP as they are besotted with the ‘Rocket’ regardless of who stands in the by-election. It will be interesting to see if the Malay voters will be taken in by the DAP fielding greenhorn Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, 27.
Will the Malays be gullible and vote for her, rather than the party, just because she is a Malay?
The Malays must awaken to reality that DAP can never defend their rights in this country. All the DAP wants is an immediate umbrella of meritocracy implemented in all areas.
The Chinese are already in control of all major industries in Malaysia, from finance, manufacturing right up to retail. The economy is in their palms. Imagine the floodgates opening to them.
Other races will be brought to their knees as they will by default ‘fail’ to meet the financial strength of the Chinese.
The Malay voters in Teluk Intan must send a clear message to DAP that putting up a wall paper like Dyana will not be able to mask its cunning, hidden agenda.
After all, how much has DAP done for the Indians and Malays in Penang? The middle-class have been pushed further down the social stratum and the state economy is dominated by the Chinese.
From the voter composition point of view, if the Malays vote against Dyana, DAP will then be at the mercy of the Indian voters.
With 19% Indians, the Teluk Intan Indians will be the kingmakers. The only worry, as usual, with the Indians is that are unrealistically emotional and have a herd mentality.
They lack the political and business acumen to make decisions to their advantage. Thus DAP and its allies have for long had an easy way out with them. Throw them crumbs and they will shut up. They may well be drooling over Dyana, forgetting their political and economical struggles.
It will be another mistake if the Indians and a fraction of the Malay voters pick DAP.
The Teluk Intan people have a golden opportunity to right the two wrongs done over the past two elections. The voter composition in Teluk Intan is 42% Chinese, 38% Malays, 19% Indians and the rest, others.
FMT
Monday, 26 May 2014
Umno member’s acts will affect BN, says Mah
TELUK INTAN: Teluk Intan Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Mah Siew Keong says the gatecrashing of the Penang state assembly and the protest outside the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur have affected Chinese support for the Barisan Nasional (BN).
Speaking to Sin Chew Daily during his campaign rounds at the leaning clock tower in Teluk Intan on Saturday morning, Mah said a survey showed that the two incidents have caused some Chinese voters to become alienated.
According to press reports, a group of Umno members barged into the Penang state assembly last Wednesday, demanding an apology from Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer, who allegedly uttered "Umno celaka" during Tuesday's sitting.
On Thursday, a group of Umno Youth members staged a protest in front of the DAP headquarters in Jalan Yew, Kuala Lumpur, to urge the DAP leadership to take action against Rayer.
Mah, who is Gerakan president, said the action of the group that barged into the state assembly is wrong.
The incident will indeed affect the chances of BN in Teluk Intan, which is what DAP wants to see.
"Sometimes, we don't know who these people are but their actions are eventually attributed to BN," he said.
Mah, who had called for a gentleman's fight with his opponent, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud of DAP, expressed regret that a number of his campaign billboards were defaced.
"On social media, there are people who superimposed my face on (images of) other people at places I have never been.
"Lies about me are also circulated via text messages. This is regrettable."
He said if BN supporters also resort to a smear campaign, it will only lead to heightened confrontation and affect the image of Teluk Intan.
He appealed for a stop to smear campaigns before the situation gets worse.
Meanwhile, a few DAP elected representatives from Penang, who are campaigning for Dyana Sofya, lodged a police report over the appearance of posters in a Malay kampung showing the DAP candidate alongside a bikini-clad actress, with whom she shares a striking facial resemblance.
They said the posters were clearly aimed at smearing the image of Dyana Sofya.
Source: THE SUN
Speaking to Sin Chew Daily during his campaign rounds at the leaning clock tower in Teluk Intan on Saturday morning, Mah said a survey showed that the two incidents have caused some Chinese voters to become alienated.
According to press reports, a group of Umno members barged into the Penang state assembly last Wednesday, demanding an apology from Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer, who allegedly uttered "Umno celaka" during Tuesday's sitting.
On Thursday, a group of Umno Youth members staged a protest in front of the DAP headquarters in Jalan Yew, Kuala Lumpur, to urge the DAP leadership to take action against Rayer.
Mah, who is Gerakan president, said the action of the group that barged into the state assembly is wrong.
The incident will indeed affect the chances of BN in Teluk Intan, which is what DAP wants to see.
"Sometimes, we don't know who these people are but their actions are eventually attributed to BN," he said.
Mah, who had called for a gentleman's fight with his opponent, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud of DAP, expressed regret that a number of his campaign billboards were defaced.
"On social media, there are people who superimposed my face on (images of) other people at places I have never been.
"Lies about me are also circulated via text messages. This is regrettable."
He said if BN supporters also resort to a smear campaign, it will only lead to heightened confrontation and affect the image of Teluk Intan.
He appealed for a stop to smear campaigns before the situation gets worse.
Meanwhile, a few DAP elected representatives from Penang, who are campaigning for Dyana Sofya, lodged a police report over the appearance of posters in a Malay kampung showing the DAP candidate alongside a bikini-clad actress, with whom she shares a striking facial resemblance.
They said the posters were clearly aimed at smearing the image of Dyana Sofya.
Source: THE SUN
Saturday, 24 May 2014
What Sort of CM? Judge for yourself!
CM pokes fun at May 21 Penang state assembly intruders
The Rakyat Post reported:
GEORGETOWN, May 24:
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng put a humorous spin on the May 21 intrusion into the state assembly by a mob, some of whom are believed to be Umno Youth members.
The mob had barged into the state assembly a day after DAP’s Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer had said Umno celaka (damn Umno).
Speaking at Pakatan Rakyat’s “Mega Ceramah” (Mega Speeches) in Han Chiang High School hall on Friday night, Lim claimed that the intruders had misjudged the seating arrangements in the state assembly hall.
“They entered the hall. They threw the flag onto the ground. They put their feet on the Speaker’s table,” Lim alleged in Bahasa Malaysia as the crowd booed disapprovingly.
“Then they went to look for my seat, but they did not know where I was sitting. They only knew I sit at the front, but they didn’t know if I was sitting on the left or on the right.
“They were looking for my bag. But I was not at the state assembly that day, so my bag was not there either.
“They saw a bag at a seat on the left. They took it and flung it along the hall.
“But I sit on the right. The bag they threw belonged to the leader of the Penang opposition, an Umno leader’s bag,” claimed Lim as the crowd burst into laughter.
“As Malays would say; padan muka! (in your face)” said Lim, who is also the DAP secretary-general.
However, he nonetheless called on the authorities to take stern action against the intruders.
Lim said the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General should charge them and ensure that the 12 people who were detained on May 21, are jailed.
He said that although those involved had claimed to be from Penang, Lim said the state government would not recognise them as Penangites as their actions were shameful.
Lim also called on voters to cast their ballots on Sunday for his party’s candidate in the Bukit Gelugor by-election, Ramkarpal Singh.
Many other speakers made the same call during the ceramah, claiming that a bigger majority would send a message to Barisan Nasional and create momentum for the Teluk Intan by-election next week.
Among the other prominent speakers were PR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, as well as Ramkarpal himself who also sent words of support to DAP’s candidate there, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud.
“Dyana, tell yourself ‘I am Karpal Singh’,” said Ramkarpal, who predicted that the 27 year-old Malay female candidate would face harsher criticism from Barisan Nasional in the days running up to Teluk Intan’s polls.
(CT: That seems to be the favourite line from Ramkarpal Singh! Nothing else to say kah?)
However, Parit Buntar MP Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa of PAS may have received just as many laughs and cheers as any of the other PR leaders.
Mujahid had dubbed himself the temporary master of ceremonies (MC) and took over the introductions of most of the PR leaders as they coincidentally entered the school hall during his speech.
“The real MC has given me five extra minutes to talk since I’ve done such a good job with the introductions,” joked Mujahid near the end of his speech which mostly focused on how Umno’s behaviour did not reflect the behaviour of all Malays
The Rakyat Post reported:
GEORGETOWN, May 24:
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng put a humorous spin on the May 21 intrusion into the state assembly by a mob, some of whom are believed to be Umno Youth members.
The mob had barged into the state assembly a day after DAP’s Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer had said Umno celaka (damn Umno).
Speaking at Pakatan Rakyat’s “Mega Ceramah” (Mega Speeches) in Han Chiang High School hall on Friday night, Lim claimed that the intruders had misjudged the seating arrangements in the state assembly hall.
“They entered the hall. They threw the flag onto the ground. They put their feet on the Speaker’s table,” Lim alleged in Bahasa Malaysia as the crowd booed disapprovingly.
“Then they went to look for my seat, but they did not know where I was sitting. They only knew I sit at the front, but they didn’t know if I was sitting on the left or on the right.
“They were looking for my bag. But I was not at the state assembly that day, so my bag was not there either.
“They saw a bag at a seat on the left. They took it and flung it along the hall.
“But I sit on the right. The bag they threw belonged to the leader of the Penang opposition, an Umno leader’s bag,” claimed Lim as the crowd burst into laughter.
“As Malays would say; padan muka! (in your face)” said Lim, who is also the DAP secretary-general.
However, he nonetheless called on the authorities to take stern action against the intruders.
Lim said the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General should charge them and ensure that the 12 people who were detained on May 21, are jailed.
He said that although those involved had claimed to be from Penang, Lim said the state government would not recognise them as Penangites as their actions were shameful.
Lim also called on voters to cast their ballots on Sunday for his party’s candidate in the Bukit Gelugor by-election, Ramkarpal Singh.
Many other speakers made the same call during the ceramah, claiming that a bigger majority would send a message to Barisan Nasional and create momentum for the Teluk Intan by-election next week.
Among the other prominent speakers were PR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, as well as Ramkarpal himself who also sent words of support to DAP’s candidate there, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud.
“Dyana, tell yourself ‘I am Karpal Singh’,” said Ramkarpal, who predicted that the 27 year-old Malay female candidate would face harsher criticism from Barisan Nasional in the days running up to Teluk Intan’s polls.
(CT: That seems to be the favourite line from Ramkarpal Singh! Nothing else to say kah?)
However, Parit Buntar MP Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa of PAS may have received just as many laughs and cheers as any of the other PR leaders.
Mujahid had dubbed himself the temporary master of ceremonies (MC) and took over the introductions of most of the PR leaders as they coincidentally entered the school hall during his speech.
“The real MC has given me five extra minutes to talk since I’ve done such a good job with the introductions,” joked Mujahid near the end of his speech which mostly focused on how Umno’s behaviour did not reflect the behaviour of all Malays
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Perkasa claims Dyana Sofya’s mother was former women’s leader
KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — Yammy Samat — the mother of DAP’s Teluk Intan candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud — was once the leader of Wiranita Perkasa, deputy president of the Malay rights group Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar has confirmed.
According to Abdul Rahman, the Umno member was among the very first to join the Malay rights group following its formation in 2008 by president Datuk Ibrahim Ali.
“She was then appointed as head of Wiranita but only held the position for five months,” he was quoted as saying in by Malay language daily Sinar Harian on its website today.
“She left because she could not commit to the organisation after moving away from Perak.”
Yammy’s association to Perkasa arose when a photograph of her and Dyana flanking Ibrahim at a dinner feting Umno stalwart Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was posted online.
Ibrahim, who is known to be close to the Gua Musang federal lawmaker popularly known as Ku Li, reportedly organised the dinner to celebrate the latter’s honorary doctorate from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) on March 10.
Ku Li, Ibrahim, and Dyana Sofya’s mother Yammy Samat had been in the Semangat 46 party that splintered from Umno during the Kelantan prince’s feud with then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The photograph was believed to have been posted by pro-Umno supporters to suggest Dyana Sofya’s association with the Malay rights group that is in frequent conflict with her DAP.
She later acknowledged the photograph but denied any formal ties with the group.
"Just because I've a photograph with him does not mean I agree with his ideology," Dyana Sofya told a press conference at DAP's operations centre in Teluk Intan on Tuesday.
"I disagree with his stance on being an extremist," she added.
Perkasa began life in 2008 as a one-man pressure group on Malay rights but later grew in numbers and influence after its cause found traction with a largely-Umno audience.
The ubiquity of Umno members among its ranks also led to the perception that the group was an indirect outlet for the more conservative elements of the party.
Dyana will face Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong in a straight fight for Teluk Intan.
Mah won the Teluk Intan seat in 1999 and 2004, but lost to DAP’s M. Manogaran in 2008 with a 1,470-vote majority.
DAP’s Seah Leong Peng had defeated Mah in 2013 with a 7,313 majority before succumbing to advanced bladder cancer on May 1, this year.
The Malay Mail
According to Abdul Rahman, the Umno member was among the very first to join the Malay rights group following its formation in 2008 by president Datuk Ibrahim Ali.
“She was then appointed as head of Wiranita but only held the position for five months,” he was quoted as saying in by Malay language daily Sinar Harian on its website today.
“She left because she could not commit to the organisation after moving away from Perak.”
Yammy’s association to Perkasa arose when a photograph of her and Dyana flanking Ibrahim at a dinner feting Umno stalwart Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was posted online.
Ibrahim, who is known to be close to the Gua Musang federal lawmaker popularly known as Ku Li, reportedly organised the dinner to celebrate the latter’s honorary doctorate from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) on March 10.
Ku Li, Ibrahim, and Dyana Sofya’s mother Yammy Samat had been in the Semangat 46 party that splintered from Umno during the Kelantan prince’s feud with then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The photograph was believed to have been posted by pro-Umno supporters to suggest Dyana Sofya’s association with the Malay rights group that is in frequent conflict with her DAP.
She later acknowledged the photograph but denied any formal ties with the group.
"Just because I've a photograph with him does not mean I agree with his ideology," Dyana Sofya told a press conference at DAP's operations centre in Teluk Intan on Tuesday.
"I disagree with his stance on being an extremist," she added.
Perkasa began life in 2008 as a one-man pressure group on Malay rights but later grew in numbers and influence after its cause found traction with a largely-Umno audience.
The ubiquity of Umno members among its ranks also led to the perception that the group was an indirect outlet for the more conservative elements of the party.
Dyana will face Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong in a straight fight for Teluk Intan.
Mah won the Teluk Intan seat in 1999 and 2004, but lost to DAP’s M. Manogaran in 2008 with a 1,470-vote majority.
DAP’s Seah Leong Peng had defeated Mah in 2013 with a 7,313 majority before succumbing to advanced bladder cancer on May 1, this year.
The Malay Mail
Can We Have An Honest Answer Please, Dyana?
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) should remain a Malay-only institution, said its pro-chancellor, Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad.
Tan Sri Dr Rahman was responding to a call by DAP's Teluk Intan by-election candidate, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, for equal access to public institutions of higher learning in Malaysia.
Tan Sri Dr Rahman argued that UiTM was set up based on Article 153 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and stressed that Bumiputera privileges should not be questioned.
This is clearly a move by DAP to court the Chinese voters who are said to be divided as to whether to vote for DAP or Barisan Nasional in the by-election. However, to touch sensitive matters such as UiTM and Article 153 of the Constitution is a very risky strategy because this just turns the campaign into a Malay versus non-Malay contest.
Dyana Sofya had also earlier made a statement regarding the Islamic Sharia law of Hudud. In that statement, which Malaysiakini published on Youtube, Dyana Sofya indicated that she is opposed to Hudud, as this is her party’s stand.
Today she refused to comment on the matter, probably realising that her earlier comment was counter-productive.
An election or by-election is the platform and opportunity for candidates to explain their party’s policy and ideology to the voters. This is where you inform the voters as to what your party’s stand is. You cannot tell the voters you refuse to comment about this or that when asked because that would mean you are not being open and are hiding certain things from the voters.
If DAP is opposed to Article 153 and UiTM as a Malay-only institution, plus you is opposed to PAS pushing for Islamic laws, then this must be very clearly stated so that the voters will know the stand of the party they are being asked to vote for.
It is dishonest for the party to ask the voters for their votes but then refuse to tell the voters what their stand is regarding very sensitive issues like Article 153, UiTM and Hudud.
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) should remain a Malay-only institution, said its pro-chancellor, Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad.
Tan Sri Dr Rahman was responding to a call by DAP's Teluk Intan by-election candidate, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, for equal access to public institutions of higher learning in Malaysia.
Tan Sri Dr Rahman argued that UiTM was set up based on Article 153 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and stressed that Bumiputera privileges should not be questioned.
This is clearly a move by DAP to court the Chinese voters who are said to be divided as to whether to vote for DAP or Barisan Nasional in the by-election. However, to touch sensitive matters such as UiTM and Article 153 of the Constitution is a very risky strategy because this just turns the campaign into a Malay versus non-Malay contest.
Dyana Sofya had also earlier made a statement regarding the Islamic Sharia law of Hudud. In that statement, which Malaysiakini published on Youtube, Dyana Sofya indicated that she is opposed to Hudud, as this is her party’s stand.
Today she refused to comment on the matter, probably realising that her earlier comment was counter-productive.
An election or by-election is the platform and opportunity for candidates to explain their party’s policy and ideology to the voters. This is where you inform the voters as to what your party’s stand is. You cannot tell the voters you refuse to comment about this or that when asked because that would mean you are not being open and are hiding certain things from the voters.
If DAP is opposed to Article 153 and UiTM as a Malay-only institution, plus you is opposed to PAS pushing for Islamic laws, then this must be very clearly stated so that the voters will know the stand of the party they are being asked to vote for.
It is dishonest for the party to ask the voters for their votes but then refuse to tell the voters what their stand is regarding very sensitive issues like Article 153, UiTM and Hudud.
________________________
BOLEHKAH DYANA SOFYA MEMBERI REAKSI YANG JUJUR?
Oleh SSK
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) perlu kekal sebagai satu-satunya institusi Melayu, kata Pro Canselor Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad.
Tan Sri Dr Rahman mengulas gesaan calon DAP dalam pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Teluk Intan Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud agar peluang samarata diberikan kepada semua untuk memasuki institusi pengajian tinggi awam di negara ini.
Justeru itu, Tan Sri Dr Rahman berhujah bahawa UiTM ditubuhkan berdasarkan peruntukan Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia dan seterusnya menekankan bahawa hak atau keistimewaan Bumiputera tidak harus dipersoalkan.
Jelas sekali, ini merupakan taktik DAP untuk meraih sokongan pengundi Cina yang kini berada di persimpangan jalan sama ada menyokong DAP atau Barisan Nasional (BN) pada pilihan raya kecil itu. Bagaimanapun, strategi kempen yang menyentuh isu sensitif bakal mengundang risiko kerana kemungkinan ia akan merubah senario kepada persaingan Melayu lawan Cina atau bukan Melayu.
Sebelum ini, Dyana Sofya telah membuat kenyataan mengenai Hudud -- Undang-Undang Syariah Islam. Dalam kenyataan itu, yang Malaysiakini muatkan di Youtube, Dyana Sofya menunjukkan dia menentang Hudud kerana itulah pendirian parti yang diwakilinya.
Hari ini Dyana Sofya enggan mengulas mengenai perkara itu mungkin kerana menyedari komennya sebelum ini tidak memberi impak yang diharapkan.
Pilihan raya atau pilihan raya kecil merupakan platform dan peluang untuk calon-calon untuk menerangkan dasar dan ideologi parti mereka kepada pengundi. Disinilah mereka memperjelaskan kepada pengundi tentang pendirian parti. Mereka tidak sepatutnya memberitahu kepada pengundi "tidak mahu memberi komen" apabila ditanya tentang sesuatu perkara kerana ia bermakna mereka tidak bersifat terbuka dan menyembunyikan sesuatu perkara dari pengetahuan pengundi.
Jika DAP tidak bersetuju dengan peruntukan Perkara 153 dan UiTM sebagai sebuah institusi Melayu, dan menentang usaha PAS menggunapakai undang-undang Islam, maka ini perlu dinyatakan dengan jelas supaya pengundi akan tahu pendirian parti yang mereka undi.
Adalah tidak jujur bagi parti untuk meminta sokongan daripada pengundi tetapi enggan menyatakan pendirian sebenar mengenai isu-isu yang sensitif seperti Perkara 153, UiTM dan Hudud.
By Salleh Said Keruak
Timbalan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Sabah
Tan Sri Dr Rahman was responding to a call by DAP's Teluk Intan by-election candidate, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, for equal access to public institutions of higher learning in Malaysia.
Tan Sri Dr Rahman argued that UiTM was set up based on Article 153 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and stressed that Bumiputera privileges should not be questioned.
This is clearly a move by DAP to court the Chinese voters who are said to be divided as to whether to vote for DAP or Barisan Nasional in the by-election. However, to touch sensitive matters such as UiTM and Article 153 of the Constitution is a very risky strategy because this just turns the campaign into a Malay versus non-Malay contest.
Dyana Sofya had also earlier made a statement regarding the Islamic Sharia law of Hudud. In that statement, which Malaysiakini published on Youtube, Dyana Sofya indicated that she is opposed to Hudud, as this is her party’s stand.
Today she refused to comment on the matter, probably realising that her earlier comment was counter-productive.
An election or by-election is the platform and opportunity for candidates to explain their party’s policy and ideology to the voters. This is where you inform the voters as to what your party’s stand is. You cannot tell the voters you refuse to comment about this or that when asked because that would mean you are not being open and are hiding certain things from the voters.
If DAP is opposed to Article 153 and UiTM as a Malay-only institution, plus you is opposed to PAS pushing for Islamic laws, then this must be very clearly stated so that the voters will know the stand of the party they are being asked to vote for.
It is dishonest for the party to ask the voters for their votes but then refuse to tell the voters what their stand is regarding very sensitive issues like Article 153, UiTM and Hudud.
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) should remain a Malay-only institution, said its pro-chancellor, Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad.
Tan Sri Dr Rahman was responding to a call by DAP's Teluk Intan by-election candidate, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, for equal access to public institutions of higher learning in Malaysia.
Tan Sri Dr Rahman argued that UiTM was set up based on Article 153 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and stressed that Bumiputera privileges should not be questioned.
This is clearly a move by DAP to court the Chinese voters who are said to be divided as to whether to vote for DAP or Barisan Nasional in the by-election. However, to touch sensitive matters such as UiTM and Article 153 of the Constitution is a very risky strategy because this just turns the campaign into a Malay versus non-Malay contest.
Dyana Sofya had also earlier made a statement regarding the Islamic Sharia law of Hudud. In that statement, which Malaysiakini published on Youtube, Dyana Sofya indicated that she is opposed to Hudud, as this is her party’s stand.
Today she refused to comment on the matter, probably realising that her earlier comment was counter-productive.
An election or by-election is the platform and opportunity for candidates to explain their party’s policy and ideology to the voters. This is where you inform the voters as to what your party’s stand is. You cannot tell the voters you refuse to comment about this or that when asked because that would mean you are not being open and are hiding certain things from the voters.
If DAP is opposed to Article 153 and UiTM as a Malay-only institution, plus you is opposed to PAS pushing for Islamic laws, then this must be very clearly stated so that the voters will know the stand of the party they are being asked to vote for.
It is dishonest for the party to ask the voters for their votes but then refuse to tell the voters what their stand is regarding very sensitive issues like Article 153, UiTM and Hudud.
________________________
BOLEHKAH DYANA SOFYA MEMBERI REAKSI YANG JUJUR?
Oleh SSK
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) perlu kekal sebagai satu-satunya institusi Melayu, kata Pro Canselor Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad.
Tan Sri Dr Rahman mengulas gesaan calon DAP dalam pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Teluk Intan Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud agar peluang samarata diberikan kepada semua untuk memasuki institusi pengajian tinggi awam di negara ini.
Justeru itu, Tan Sri Dr Rahman berhujah bahawa UiTM ditubuhkan berdasarkan peruntukan Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia dan seterusnya menekankan bahawa hak atau keistimewaan Bumiputera tidak harus dipersoalkan.
Jelas sekali, ini merupakan taktik DAP untuk meraih sokongan pengundi Cina yang kini berada di persimpangan jalan sama ada menyokong DAP atau Barisan Nasional (BN) pada pilihan raya kecil itu. Bagaimanapun, strategi kempen yang menyentuh isu sensitif bakal mengundang risiko kerana kemungkinan ia akan merubah senario kepada persaingan Melayu lawan Cina atau bukan Melayu.
Sebelum ini, Dyana Sofya telah membuat kenyataan mengenai Hudud -- Undang-Undang Syariah Islam. Dalam kenyataan itu, yang Malaysiakini muatkan di Youtube, Dyana Sofya menunjukkan dia menentang Hudud kerana itulah pendirian parti yang diwakilinya.
Hari ini Dyana Sofya enggan mengulas mengenai perkara itu mungkin kerana menyedari komennya sebelum ini tidak memberi impak yang diharapkan.
Pilihan raya atau pilihan raya kecil merupakan platform dan peluang untuk calon-calon untuk menerangkan dasar dan ideologi parti mereka kepada pengundi. Disinilah mereka memperjelaskan kepada pengundi tentang pendirian parti. Mereka tidak sepatutnya memberitahu kepada pengundi "tidak mahu memberi komen" apabila ditanya tentang sesuatu perkara kerana ia bermakna mereka tidak bersifat terbuka dan menyembunyikan sesuatu perkara dari pengetahuan pengundi.
Jika DAP tidak bersetuju dengan peruntukan Perkara 153 dan UiTM sebagai sebuah institusi Melayu, dan menentang usaha PAS menggunapakai undang-undang Islam, maka ini perlu dinyatakan dengan jelas supaya pengundi akan tahu pendirian parti yang mereka undi.
Adalah tidak jujur bagi parti untuk meminta sokongan daripada pengundi tetapi enggan menyatakan pendirian sebenar mengenai isu-isu yang sensitif seperti Perkara 153, UiTM dan Hudud.
By Salleh Said Keruak
Timbalan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Sabah
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
Shahrir tells Dyana to understand DAP’s secular stance
JOHOR BARU, May 21:
DAP candidate for the Teluk Intan parliamentary constituency Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud has been asked to fully understand the DAP’s fight in defending the policy of secularism.
In making the call, Johor Baru Umno division chief Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said he was shocked when Dyana Sofya was reported to have declared that, if elected, she would oppose the hudud bills that PAS had proposed to table in Parliament.
The 27-year-old candidate said she was opposed to hudud law in accordance with the party line, or the DAP’s fight.
“Secularism is a concept whereby the government or any other entity exists in separation from religion or religious belief. How did the party come to have such a party line when it is secular?” asked Shahrir at a media conference at the Johor Baru Umno division office today.
He said the DAP, as a party which defended secularism, must allow its Muslim leaders and representatives to make their own stand as Muslims.
While respecting Dyana Sofya’s decision to join the DAP, Umno veteran Shahrir said it was not something weird even though she was brought up in a family which supported the Umno cause.
“The situation is now very open and there should be no surprise when family members, such as mine, hold different political views.
“My sister was influenced by socialism when studying in the United Kingdom in the 60′s.
“When studying in Universiti Malaya, I was influenced by Umno which was fighting for the New Economic Policy, while my brother (Khalid — Pas Member of Parliament for Shah Alam) supported PAS after being influenced by the Islamic Revolution while studying in the UK.”
Shahrir also expressed confidence that BN candidate Datuk Mah Siew Keong was capable of wresting the Teluk Intan seat from the Opposition.
“Mah still has a chance of winning because he has continued to provide good service to the people there despite losing in 2013.
“Can the DAP provide such service?”
The Rakyat Post
DAP candidate for the Teluk Intan parliamentary constituency Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud has been asked to fully understand the DAP’s fight in defending the policy of secularism.
In making the call, Johor Baru Umno division chief Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said he was shocked when Dyana Sofya was reported to have declared that, if elected, she would oppose the hudud bills that PAS had proposed to table in Parliament.
The 27-year-old candidate said she was opposed to hudud law in accordance with the party line, or the DAP’s fight.
“Secularism is a concept whereby the government or any other entity exists in separation from religion or religious belief. How did the party come to have such a party line when it is secular?” asked Shahrir at a media conference at the Johor Baru Umno division office today.
He said the DAP, as a party which defended secularism, must allow its Muslim leaders and representatives to make their own stand as Muslims.
While respecting Dyana Sofya’s decision to join the DAP, Umno veteran Shahrir said it was not something weird even though she was brought up in a family which supported the Umno cause.
“The situation is now very open and there should be no surprise when family members, such as mine, hold different political views.
“My sister was influenced by socialism when studying in the United Kingdom in the 60′s.
“When studying in Universiti Malaya, I was influenced by Umno which was fighting for the New Economic Policy, while my brother (Khalid — Pas Member of Parliament for Shah Alam) supported PAS after being influenced by the Islamic Revolution while studying in the UK.”
Shahrir also expressed confidence that BN candidate Datuk Mah Siew Keong was capable of wresting the Teluk Intan seat from the Opposition.
“Mah still has a chance of winning because he has continued to provide good service to the people there despite losing in 2013.
“Can the DAP provide such service?”
The Rakyat Post
DAP, Dyana's Pic and Double Standards
The MCA has called out the DAP for practicing double standards for keeping mum over a photograph of the latter’s by-election with Datuk Ibrahim Ali.
This especially so after the DAP took MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun to task after a photograph of her appearing with the controversial president of the right wing Malay group surfaced during the Kajang by-election of which she contested in.
Chew, according to the party’s Youth National chairman Chong Sin Woon, was then subjected to a “torrent of malicious and erroneous criticism of being in cahoots with Perkasa”.
”Obviously, DAP has a different set of standard in dealing with Perkasa when its own candidate is an acquaintance of Ibrahim,” Chong said in a statement, alluding to Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud.
A picture of Dyana standing next to Ibrahim has been making rounds on the Internet of which some quarters questioned in relation to the difference in Perkasa’s ideologies and that of the DAP’s.
The 27-year-old has since stated that she has never had any problems with Perkasa championing Malay rights but opposed the group’s extremism.
Chong went on to urge Pakatan Rakyat’s Lim Guan Eng, Nga Kor Ming and Elizabeth Wong — whom he claimed showed “no mercy” in attacking Chew during the Kajang by-election over the photograph — to apologise to Chew and the voter for their action if they held on to principles of fairness and justice.
Otherwise, he said, Dyana should face the same treatment from them “for being in cahoots with Perkasa”.
“The statement which was used on Chew, Lim should likewise use it on Dyana too. If Dyana could state her stand that she has nothing to do with Perkasa, then she should make a clean break from Perkasa.
“Otherwise she should just admit her relationship with Perkasa and perhaps she could still earn some respect for being honest,” Chong said.
The Rakyat Post
This especially so after the DAP took MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun to task after a photograph of her appearing with the controversial president of the right wing Malay group surfaced during the Kajang by-election of which she contested in.
Chew, according to the party’s Youth National chairman Chong Sin Woon, was then subjected to a “torrent of malicious and erroneous criticism of being in cahoots with Perkasa”.
”Obviously, DAP has a different set of standard in dealing with Perkasa when its own candidate is an acquaintance of Ibrahim,” Chong said in a statement, alluding to Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud.
A picture of Dyana standing next to Ibrahim has been making rounds on the Internet of which some quarters questioned in relation to the difference in Perkasa’s ideologies and that of the DAP’s.
The 27-year-old has since stated that she has never had any problems with Perkasa championing Malay rights but opposed the group’s extremism.
Chong went on to urge Pakatan Rakyat’s Lim Guan Eng, Nga Kor Ming and Elizabeth Wong — whom he claimed showed “no mercy” in attacking Chew during the Kajang by-election over the photograph — to apologise to Chew and the voter for their action if they held on to principles of fairness and justice.
Otherwise, he said, Dyana should face the same treatment from them “for being in cahoots with Perkasa”.
“The statement which was used on Chew, Lim should likewise use it on Dyana too. If Dyana could state her stand that she has nothing to do with Perkasa, then she should make a clean break from Perkasa.
“Otherwise she should just admit her relationship with Perkasa and perhaps she could still earn some respect for being honest,” Chong said.
The Rakyat Post
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
Disappointed with Dyana, Dr M gives parenting tip
Dr Mahathir Mohamad is disappointed. He is unable to digest the fact that DAP is fielding a Malay candidate who hails from a family of long-time Umno supporters.
If Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud had come from a family that is pro-opposition, the former Umno president would not have given a hoot.
To avoid such cases, Mahathir provided Umno members with a parenting tip.
"It's not a bother if the candidate comes from a pro-opposition family as from small, she would have been taught to hate Umno.
"As parents, Umno members should tell their children about Umno, its history and what it has done (for country and people).
"Otherwise when they grow up, they will do as they please," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Dyana's race has been one the main focal point of Umno after DAP named the 27-year-old lawyer as its candidate for the Teluk Intan by-election.
Among others, Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil even denounced her as a traitor to the race.
Meanwhile, Mahathir said DAP's action of fielding a Malay candidate was mere window-dressing to deceive the Malays.
He said it was not impossible, however, for many Malays to support the DAP candidate as history had proven that the Malays were easily duped by such a move.
"The action is mere window-dressing and no high hopes (placed on the candidate). If she wins, it's victory for them (DAP)," he added.
Malaysiakini
If Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud had come from a family that is pro-opposition, the former Umno president would not have given a hoot.
To avoid such cases, Mahathir provided Umno members with a parenting tip.
"It's not a bother if the candidate comes from a pro-opposition family as from small, she would have been taught to hate Umno.
"As parents, Umno members should tell their children about Umno, its history and what it has done (for country and people).
"Otherwise when they grow up, they will do as they please," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Dyana's race has been one the main focal point of Umno after DAP named the 27-year-old lawyer as its candidate for the Teluk Intan by-election.
Among others, Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil even denounced her as a traitor to the race.
Meanwhile, Mahathir said DAP's action of fielding a Malay candidate was mere window-dressing to deceive the Malays.
He said it was not impossible, however, for many Malays to support the DAP candidate as history had proven that the Malays were easily duped by such a move.
"The action is mere window-dressing and no high hopes (placed on the candidate). If she wins, it's victory for them (DAP)," he added.
Malaysiakini
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