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 Teluk Intan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teluk Intan. Show all posts
Thursday, 12 June 2014
Saturday, 7 June 2014
Teluk Intan - The Omen for Pakatan Rakyat
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — Unresolved issues within Pakatan Rakyat (PR) such as PAS's renewed hudud bid and the mounting discontent in Selangor could leave the pact with just Penang and handful of federal seats in urban areas in the next general election, according to political observers.
PR leaders told The Malay Mail Online that DAP's performance in Teluk Intan — going from a 7,313-majority win in 2013 to a 238-vote loss — is an indication of potential losses in the future if PAS, DAP, and PKR do not settle its conflicts and maintain its common policy framework.
Issues such as growing public anger towards Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's handling of the Kinrara Damansara Expressway (Kidex), the seizure of Malay- and Iban-language bibles by the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) and allegations of voter manipulation and result delays in PKR's on-going party elections are but a few examples of issues facing the PR state government.
Another pressing concern is PAS's unilateral push for hudud to be implemented in Kelantan, which critics have pointed out went against PR's Election 2013 manifesto.
“If this goes on, we might see a repeat of what happened to PAS in Kedah in 2013 and Barisan Nasional (BN) in Selangor before 2008.
“If voters decided to punish Pakatan in Selangor for not listening and addressing their concerns, like in the Kidex and bible issue we could very well lose the state come GE14,” former political analyst and DAP election strategist Dr Ong Kian Ming told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.
He said PAS's insistence on its hudud bid was costing the opposition pact support among non-Malay voters whom he said feel let down by the Islamist party's departure from its previous “PAS for all” agenda during GE13.
“Because PAS has pushed hudud, which is not part of PR's common manifesto, voters feel betrayed because it goes against our election promise — no hudud,” Ong added.
Adding to that concern, Ong said was PKR's leadership crisis and internal strife in its party election.
“The fact that the elections have dragged on longer than it should is distracting the party from addressing its problems with the Selangor administration.
“The other worry is that PKR's election problems may affect Pakatan's agenda for free and fair elections.... how do we promote that when there are serious concerns as to the transparency of elections on a party level,” he said.
PKR’s internal polls have been mired by allegations of corruption and impropriety, forcing the party to conduct fresh balloting for 35 branches and indefinitely postpone the results.
Selangor DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo agreed with his party colleague, stressing that PR had a “moral obligation” to uphold all of its Election 2013 promises.
A vocal opponent of Kidex, Gobind said that MB Khalid's support for the highway as well as PAS's hudud push contravened the opposition pact's common agenda.
Kidex is a proposed 14.9km highway that will cut through densely-populated parts of Petaling Jaya that is meeting with increasing resistance from residents.
“Promises made during elections must be kept, there is no other way around this.
“In the case of hudud, Malaysia is and must always remain a secular state,” he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.
In 1993, the PAS state government passed the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code Enactment (II), allowing it to impose the strict Islamic penal code in the state. But the laws have not been implemented.
PAS is now looking for parliamentary approval to implement hudud. It plans to put forward two private members’ bills in Parliament.
“What will happen if these things go unaddressed is that people will be reluctant to come out to vote.
“Because if they support DAP and PKR, it means they support PAS as well,” the Puchong MP added.
Independent political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said that PR's inability to honour its common policy agenda showed that the three-party pact was still a “loose coalition” and that not all of its leaders were on the same page.
This, he said would do little to inspire voters to come out and support PR in the next general election in the numbers that gave the pact the popular vote victory in Election 2013.
“What you are going to see is a trend of voters who may be Pakatan supporters but who will not want to go back to their home states to vote,” he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.
Low voter turnout was cited as among the factors that saw DAP lose in Teluk Intan.
Khoo added that the issues in Selangor and the hudud push in Kelantan will also affect how voters viewed PR as a whole.
“When you oversell on reform, you have to back it up.
“What is happening in Selangor and Kelantan is not a good example of good governance,” Khoo said.
In Election 2013, PR won 89 of the 222 federal seats, building on the 82 it took five years before and again denied BN its customary supermajority in Parliament.
- Malay Mail -
PR leaders told The Malay Mail Online that DAP's performance in Teluk Intan — going from a 7,313-majority win in 2013 to a 238-vote loss — is an indication of potential losses in the future if PAS, DAP, and PKR do not settle its conflicts and maintain its common policy framework.
Issues such as growing public anger towards Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's handling of the Kinrara Damansara Expressway (Kidex), the seizure of Malay- and Iban-language bibles by the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) and allegations of voter manipulation and result delays in PKR's on-going party elections are but a few examples of issues facing the PR state government.
Another pressing concern is PAS's unilateral push for hudud to be implemented in Kelantan, which critics have pointed out went against PR's Election 2013 manifesto.
“If this goes on, we might see a repeat of what happened to PAS in Kedah in 2013 and Barisan Nasional (BN) in Selangor before 2008.
“If voters decided to punish Pakatan in Selangor for not listening and addressing their concerns, like in the Kidex and bible issue we could very well lose the state come GE14,” former political analyst and DAP election strategist Dr Ong Kian Ming told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.
He said PAS's insistence on its hudud bid was costing the opposition pact support among non-Malay voters whom he said feel let down by the Islamist party's departure from its previous “PAS for all” agenda during GE13.
“Because PAS has pushed hudud, which is not part of PR's common manifesto, voters feel betrayed because it goes against our election promise — no hudud,” Ong added.
Adding to that concern, Ong said was PKR's leadership crisis and internal strife in its party election.
“The fact that the elections have dragged on longer than it should is distracting the party from addressing its problems with the Selangor administration.
“The other worry is that PKR's election problems may affect Pakatan's agenda for free and fair elections.... how do we promote that when there are serious concerns as to the transparency of elections on a party level,” he said.
PKR’s internal polls have been mired by allegations of corruption and impropriety, forcing the party to conduct fresh balloting for 35 branches and indefinitely postpone the results.
Selangor DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo agreed with his party colleague, stressing that PR had a “moral obligation” to uphold all of its Election 2013 promises.
A vocal opponent of Kidex, Gobind said that MB Khalid's support for the highway as well as PAS's hudud push contravened the opposition pact's common agenda.
Kidex is a proposed 14.9km highway that will cut through densely-populated parts of Petaling Jaya that is meeting with increasing resistance from residents.
“Promises made during elections must be kept, there is no other way around this.
“In the case of hudud, Malaysia is and must always remain a secular state,” he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.
In 1993, the PAS state government passed the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code Enactment (II), allowing it to impose the strict Islamic penal code in the state. But the laws have not been implemented.
PAS is now looking for parliamentary approval to implement hudud. It plans to put forward two private members’ bills in Parliament.
“What will happen if these things go unaddressed is that people will be reluctant to come out to vote.
“Because if they support DAP and PKR, it means they support PAS as well,” the Puchong MP added.
Independent political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said that PR's inability to honour its common policy agenda showed that the three-party pact was still a “loose coalition” and that not all of its leaders were on the same page.
This, he said would do little to inspire voters to come out and support PR in the next general election in the numbers that gave the pact the popular vote victory in Election 2013.
“What you are going to see is a trend of voters who may be Pakatan supporters but who will not want to go back to their home states to vote,” he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.
Low voter turnout was cited as among the factors that saw DAP lose in Teluk Intan.
Khoo added that the issues in Selangor and the hudud push in Kelantan will also affect how voters viewed PR as a whole.
“When you oversell on reform, you have to back it up.
“What is happening in Selangor and Kelantan is not a good example of good governance,” Khoo said.
In Election 2013, PR won 89 of the 222 federal seats, building on the 82 it took five years before and again denied BN its customary supermajority in Parliament.
- Malay Mail -
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
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-
Sunday, 1 June 2014
DAP's Miscalculated Move
I congratulate Mah for his deserved victory. He is the BETTER candidate. I am thrilled DAP lost because the way they campaigned in Teluk Intan smacks of arrogance, overconfidence and pride. They made themselves the laughing stock - hollow campaign, an even hollower manifesto and so many big boo-boo's. Daddy Anak's Party had better repent. Learn fr BN - humility.
Malaysiakini reported:
While DAP would point fingers at voter turnout and BN's election machinery as the reason for their defeat in the Teluk Intan, the hard truth is this:
DAP lost this by-election, BN did not win it from DAP.
The most obvious contributing factor to the narrow defeat is actually the party's misplaced strategy that simply did not connect with Teluk Intan voters and its demography.
The party's campaign theme and candidate choice, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, was based on the theme of breaking racial barriers and managed to capture the imagination of many around nomination day.
But what transpired after that moment inspired very little confidence from the electorate.
In short, DAP had used an urban constituency strategy to campaign in a semi-urban constituency, a mismatch that eventually cost them to lose Chinese and Indian votes that they had won in the last elections.
This problem has been attributed by some insiders to DAP's nationalisation strategy, where national leaders take the lead during a campaign like this - at the cost of opinions and insights of local leaders who understand the constituency well.
Ears not on ground
Dyana's manifesto, for example, was general and vague and offered no uniqueness to the constituency as well. She and her team had probably overlooked the fact that 65 percent of the electorate here are involved in agriculture-based industry, and issues such as GST, and national policies ring very hollow inside the estates.
A party insider admitted to Malaysiakini that neither the party campaign leaders nor Dyana "understood the demographics of Teluk Intan."
DAP's campaign kicked off amidst much anticipation, but as the days passed, their routine had become repetitive and the party made minimal foray into the Malay heartland, an Umno stronghold, despite fielding a Malay candidate.
They did not capitalise on the possibilities of using more bold strategies to introduce Dyana to the electorate.
Dyana was akin to a rough diamond, but instead of honing her, leaders ended up defending her flaws in the campaign period, and at times resorted to allowing Dyana's superficial attraction take centre stage over her substance, such as holding a programme just to allow townsfolk take "selfies" with her.
In short, while fielding Dyana was a brave and progressive decision, DAP failed to materialise that into a 12-day campaign period. The campaign itself was not bold enough - the party hardly moved away from its comfort zone.
And as in the 13th general election, the party this time had confidence due to massive turnouts at the ceramah, including one on Friday night that attracted over 10,000 people. However, as the elections have proven, the bumper crowd does not necessarily translate into votes.
Low turnout at BN events were not an indicator either. It has long been BN's tradition, even before the emergence of Pakatan Rakyat as a force, to campaign in front of small crowds, and to make house-to-house visits.
DAP, on the other hand, only started travelling into the estates in the second week of campaigning, juggling between ceramah and touch and go walkabouts in Teluk Intan's more remote areas.
Shock win for BN?
But touching base would never be enough in areas where the BN footprint has been established long ago. And Dyana's campaign theme and message offers no attraction to these outskirts voters, who at this juncture are probably looking at the candidate's offering rather than the party.
BN, while sounding cautiously optimistic, were not bullish about their chances. The new Teluk Intan MP Mah Siew Keong said he would "accept full responsibility" in the event of a loss on the morning of polling day, while Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak made no plans to come to Teluk Intan when results were announced.
When it became apparent that Mah had scored a surprise win, Umno leaders such as Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Ahmad Maslan, and others had to rush to the tallying centre.
Mah had known about his win unofficially more than an hour earlier, but had to wait for the other leaders to come down to Teluk Intan before accompanying them to the tallying centre.
This also delayed the Election Commission's official declaration of winner by more than an hour.
While some BN component parties will try to claim credit over the win, the most obvious winner in the by-election is Mah, and by extension, a revival for Gerakan.
Defeat, however, will put DAP back to the drawing board in terms of their strategies. It can no longer take the electorate for granted by fielding a political greenhorn in a constituency without understanding the constituency beforehand.
GE13 lessons not yet learned
And this lesson, if learned from, will go a long way in teaching Pakatan Rakyat and DAP where they went wrong in the last general elections and where they need to improve by the time for the next general election.
The same Dyana strategy employed here cannot be employed in many semi-urban constituencies in the country.
While attempting to foray into BN strongholds, DAP must not lose sight of seats it has already won. A referendum on racial politics can work with an urban, educated electorate, but obviously would not connect with an electorate whose majority still relies on the mainstream media for information.
To illustrate, just as hotel receptionist in Teluk Intan presumed the name Malaysiakini to be a political party, DAP has similarly miscalculated the demographic on this constituency and paid the price.
-Malaysiakini-
Malaysiakini reported:
While DAP would point fingers at voter turnout and BN's election machinery as the reason for their defeat in the Teluk Intan, the hard truth is this:
DAP lost this by-election, BN did not win it from DAP.
The most obvious contributing factor to the narrow defeat is actually the party's misplaced strategy that simply did not connect with Teluk Intan voters and its demography.
The party's campaign theme and candidate choice, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, was based on the theme of breaking racial barriers and managed to capture the imagination of many around nomination day.
But what transpired after that moment inspired very little confidence from the electorate.
In short, DAP had used an urban constituency strategy to campaign in a semi-urban constituency, a mismatch that eventually cost them to lose Chinese and Indian votes that they had won in the last elections.
This problem has been attributed by some insiders to DAP's nationalisation strategy, where national leaders take the lead during a campaign like this - at the cost of opinions and insights of local leaders who understand the constituency well.
Ears not on ground
Dyana's manifesto, for example, was general and vague and offered no uniqueness to the constituency as well. She and her team had probably overlooked the fact that 65 percent of the electorate here are involved in agriculture-based industry, and issues such as GST, and national policies ring very hollow inside the estates.
A party insider admitted to Malaysiakini that neither the party campaign leaders nor Dyana "understood the demographics of Teluk Intan."
DAP's campaign kicked off amidst much anticipation, but as the days passed, their routine had become repetitive and the party made minimal foray into the Malay heartland, an Umno stronghold, despite fielding a Malay candidate.
They did not capitalise on the possibilities of using more bold strategies to introduce Dyana to the electorate.
Dyana was akin to a rough diamond, but instead of honing her, leaders ended up defending her flaws in the campaign period, and at times resorted to allowing Dyana's superficial attraction take centre stage over her substance, such as holding a programme just to allow townsfolk take "selfies" with her.
In short, while fielding Dyana was a brave and progressive decision, DAP failed to materialise that into a 12-day campaign period. The campaign itself was not bold enough - the party hardly moved away from its comfort zone.
And as in the 13th general election, the party this time had confidence due to massive turnouts at the ceramah, including one on Friday night that attracted over 10,000 people. However, as the elections have proven, the bumper crowd does not necessarily translate into votes.
Low turnout at BN events were not an indicator either. It has long been BN's tradition, even before the emergence of Pakatan Rakyat as a force, to campaign in front of small crowds, and to make house-to-house visits.
DAP, on the other hand, only started travelling into the estates in the second week of campaigning, juggling between ceramah and touch and go walkabouts in Teluk Intan's more remote areas.
Shock win for BN?
But touching base would never be enough in areas where the BN footprint has been established long ago. And Dyana's campaign theme and message offers no attraction to these outskirts voters, who at this juncture are probably looking at the candidate's offering rather than the party.
BN, while sounding cautiously optimistic, were not bullish about their chances. The new Teluk Intan MP Mah Siew Keong said he would "accept full responsibility" in the event of a loss on the morning of polling day, while Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak made no plans to come to Teluk Intan when results were announced.
When it became apparent that Mah had scored a surprise win, Umno leaders such as Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Ahmad Maslan, and others had to rush to the tallying centre.
Mah had known about his win unofficially more than an hour earlier, but had to wait for the other leaders to come down to Teluk Intan before accompanying them to the tallying centre.
This also delayed the Election Commission's official declaration of winner by more than an hour.
While some BN component parties will try to claim credit over the win, the most obvious winner in the by-election is Mah, and by extension, a revival for Gerakan.
Defeat, however, will put DAP back to the drawing board in terms of their strategies. It can no longer take the electorate for granted by fielding a political greenhorn in a constituency without understanding the constituency beforehand.
GE13 lessons not yet learned
And this lesson, if learned from, will go a long way in teaching Pakatan Rakyat and DAP where they went wrong in the last general elections and where they need to improve by the time for the next general election.
The same Dyana strategy employed here cannot be employed in many semi-urban constituencies in the country.
While attempting to foray into BN strongholds, DAP must not lose sight of seats it has already won. A referendum on racial politics can work with an urban, educated electorate, but obviously would not connect with an electorate whose majority still relies on the mainstream media for information.
To illustrate, just as hotel receptionist in Teluk Intan presumed the name Malaysiakini to be a political party, DAP has similarly miscalculated the demographic on this constituency and paid the price.
-Malaysiakini-
Friday, 30 May 2014
Mah as Minister Promise
TELUK INTAN Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s confirmation today that BN candidate Mah Siew Keong would be made a minister if he wins the Teluk Intan by-election is the clearest indication yet that BN now believes it has a chance of winning the hotly-contested seat.
Even though DAP won with a commanding 7,600-vote majority in the last general election, this by-election has been far from a stroll for the party, as a combination of several factors have left them genuinely worried as to whether they would be able to retain a seat the party has held since 2008.
Party leaders have expressed concern several times in the past few days, pointing out to a possible low voter turnout and also to BN’s strong machinery as causes for concern.
As things stand, DAP is not expected to do better than its late MP Seah Leong Peng's performance at the general election last May.
This is because the party had at that time commanding support from both the Indian and Chinese community and it would be an achievement to maintain this support.
Some elderly Chinese voters might return to the BN fold due to sentiments to Mah’s long track record in the constituency and the attraction in seeing the latter as a minister.
Indian voters have become BN’s focus in the last leg of the campaign as both parties realise it is the Indian votes that could finally decide the fate of the by-election.
DAP might see a slight increase in Malay votes due to its fielding of candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, but the increase could be minimal as most Malays are still expected to vote for BN due to their strong loyalty to Umno.
PAS, DAP’s partner in Pakatan Rakyat, has stated publicly that it aims to help maintain DAP’s 25 percent Malay support in the by-election and is not really focusing on making major inroads into Umno’s stronghold even though DAP has fielded a Malay candidate here.
BN, meanwhile, have not made much headway in winning over DAP supporters, but a low voter turnout, especially fewer outstation voters, would drastically slash DAP’s votes and leave BN just slightly behind DAP in terms of overall votes projection.
DAP: Let’s not lose due to low turnout
According to analysts, including from DAP’s own strategist Ong Kian Ming, DAP is not likely to record a commanding win in this by-election.
In the most optimistic scenario, Ong predicted a 1,000-vote majority for DAP.
“Everywhere I go in Teluk Intan, and in house-to-house campaigns, we are told that many voters are outstation,” said DAP’s Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran, who is also a former Teluk Intan MP from 1997-1999.
“If the Bukit Gelugor turnout is a barometer then we will lose (the by-election). Let’s not lose because of low turnout,” Kulasegaran urged.
“People should not think that DAP will definitely win because of the 7,000 majority in the last elections.
"BN is going all out this time,” he said.
Even though the party’s decision to field Dyana, only 27, as a candidate has created plenty of excitement and debate in the national political arena, Teluk Intan will remain an important and tight battle that will test the party’s long-term strategy.
So far, however, Najib has not involved himself in the campaign.
But with his statement yesterday the party has just upped its campaign platform, with 24 hours to go before Teluk Intan folk go to polls.
Malaysiakini
Even though DAP won with a commanding 7,600-vote majority in the last general election, this by-election has been far from a stroll for the party, as a combination of several factors have left them genuinely worried as to whether they would be able to retain a seat the party has held since 2008.
Party leaders have expressed concern several times in the past few days, pointing out to a possible low voter turnout and also to BN’s strong machinery as causes for concern.
As things stand, DAP is not expected to do better than its late MP Seah Leong Peng's performance at the general election last May.
This is because the party had at that time commanding support from both the Indian and Chinese community and it would be an achievement to maintain this support.
Some elderly Chinese voters might return to the BN fold due to sentiments to Mah’s long track record in the constituency and the attraction in seeing the latter as a minister.
Indian voters have become BN’s focus in the last leg of the campaign as both parties realise it is the Indian votes that could finally decide the fate of the by-election.
DAP might see a slight increase in Malay votes due to its fielding of candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, but the increase could be minimal as most Malays are still expected to vote for BN due to their strong loyalty to Umno.
PAS, DAP’s partner in Pakatan Rakyat, has stated publicly that it aims to help maintain DAP’s 25 percent Malay support in the by-election and is not really focusing on making major inroads into Umno’s stronghold even though DAP has fielded a Malay candidate here.
BN, meanwhile, have not made much headway in winning over DAP supporters, but a low voter turnout, especially fewer outstation voters, would drastically slash DAP’s votes and leave BN just slightly behind DAP in terms of overall votes projection.
DAP: Let’s not lose due to low turnout
According to analysts, including from DAP’s own strategist Ong Kian Ming, DAP is not likely to record a commanding win in this by-election.
In the most optimistic scenario, Ong predicted a 1,000-vote majority for DAP.
“Everywhere I go in Teluk Intan, and in house-to-house campaigns, we are told that many voters are outstation,” said DAP’s Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran, who is also a former Teluk Intan MP from 1997-1999.
“If the Bukit Gelugor turnout is a barometer then we will lose (the by-election). Let’s not lose because of low turnout,” Kulasegaran urged.
“People should not think that DAP will definitely win because of the 7,000 majority in the last elections.
"BN is going all out this time,” he said.
Even though the party’s decision to field Dyana, only 27, as a candidate has created plenty of excitement and debate in the national political arena, Teluk Intan will remain an important and tight battle that will test the party’s long-term strategy.
So far, however, Najib has not involved himself in the campaign.
But with his statement yesterday the party has just upped its campaign platform, with 24 hours to go before Teluk Intan folk go to polls.
Malaysiakini
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
Gerakan calls Dyana 'LIAR' on Perkasa issue
Malaysiakini reported:
Gerakan has called DAP Teluk Intan candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud a liar, for flip-flopping on her mother’s membership in Perkasa.
"One word, she is a liar," said Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Ming.
She flip-flops, her position is is not consistent, just like her party," Gerakan deputy president Cheah Soon Ha said.
He also asserted that it now turned out Dyana had also helped register members for Perkasa.
She was also wrong when she said she joined the party only after former DAP vice- chairperson Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim left, he said.
"From this few instances you can see, that her credibility is at stake, she needs to answer to the public," continued Cheah.
Empty manifesto
Meanwhile, Liang also complained that Dyana's manifesto released today carried no content. "Generally, I see this as an empty manifesto," he said.
"If she says she wants to strengthen facilities for the youth, where's allocation coming from? Only when BN asks will there be allocation for development," Liang said.
He further said DAP's manifesto has copied Gerakan's which was released a day earlier and also on youth issues.
Liang also clarified a report carried by Malaysiakini that BN candidate Mah Siew Keong had claimed he shouldn't be held responsible for development promises made by ministers during the election campaign.
What the candidate had said was that he was not at the function where ministers had made promises, so he had urged the reporters to ask the relevant ministers, he held.
"That doesn't mean that he would not be responsible for the ministers' promises. While I am satisfied with all media reports, I hope all can act professionally, ethically, and don't spin," he added.
Earlier, Mah said he shouldn't be held responsible for something which could cause him to be disqualified as a candidate.
"The media asked me (yesterday), about some minister promising uniforms and whether that could disqualify me as a candidate," he said.
"But that is a decision made in his work as a minister, so why do you want to put it to me that I am giving out things?" he asked.
Malaysiakini
Gerakan has called DAP Teluk Intan candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud a liar, for flip-flopping on her mother’s membership in Perkasa.
"One word, she is a liar," said Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Ming.
She flip-flops, her position is is not consistent, just like her party," Gerakan deputy president Cheah Soon Ha said.
He also asserted that it now turned out Dyana had also helped register members for Perkasa.
She was also wrong when she said she joined the party only after former DAP vice- chairperson Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim left, he said.
"From this few instances you can see, that her credibility is at stake, she needs to answer to the public," continued Cheah.
Empty manifesto
Meanwhile, Liang also complained that Dyana's manifesto released today carried no content. "Generally, I see this as an empty manifesto," he said.
"If she says she wants to strengthen facilities for the youth, where's allocation coming from? Only when BN asks will there be allocation for development," Liang said.
He further said DAP's manifesto has copied Gerakan's which was released a day earlier and also on youth issues.
Liang also clarified a report carried by Malaysiakini that BN candidate Mah Siew Keong had claimed he shouldn't be held responsible for development promises made by ministers during the election campaign.
What the candidate had said was that he was not at the function where ministers had made promises, so he had urged the reporters to ask the relevant ministers, he held.
"That doesn't mean that he would not be responsible for the ministers' promises. While I am satisfied with all media reports, I hope all can act professionally, ethically, and don't spin," he added.
Earlier, Mah said he shouldn't be held responsible for something which could cause him to be disqualified as a candidate.
"The media asked me (yesterday), about some minister promising uniforms and whether that could disqualify me as a candidate," he said.
"But that is a decision made in his work as a minister, so why do you want to put it to me that I am giving out things?" he asked.
Malaysiakini
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
Dyana admits mom involved with Perkasa
Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud today admitted that her mother Yammy Samat had been involved with the Malay right wing group, Perkasa.
The DAP candidate for the Teluk Intan by-election, who had previously denied it, said she had helped her mother conduct a membership registration for Perkasa in 2008.
"I was not aware whether my mother was a member or not at that time, and at that time I was studying," she told a news conference.
Dyana said her mother (right) had asked her to help with the registration exercise.
"Yes, at that time she was involved with Perkasa but for few months; after that she left because she no longer believed in Perkasa," she said.
Dyana was asked to comment on the circulation of a photograph of her helping Yammy at the launch of the Perkasa website and a membership campaign in 2008.
On her mother's position as a committee member of Perkasa, she said her mother was a member of the pro-tem committee and had left the organisation before the first general meeting.
"I am not sure whether she was a registered member with Perkasa before the AGM or not ... my mother is an Umno member; I am not.
"Maybe she was involved in Perkasa, I was not. Maybe this should not be an issue," she said.
Previously, Dyana had denied that her mother was a member of Perkasa.
Meanwhile, newspapers today reported that Gopeng Wanita Umno head Hamidah Osman said Yammy was one of the pro-tem leaders of Perkasa and was its first head of the women's wing.
Hamidah said the information was gleaned from Perkasa secretary Syed Hassan Syed Ali who said that Yammy was on the pro-tem committee until the first annual general meeting in March 2010 before resigning.
She claimed that up to now there had been no record to show that Yammy had resigned as a Perkasa member. - Bernama
The DAP candidate for the Teluk Intan by-election, who had previously denied it, said she had helped her mother conduct a membership registration for Perkasa in 2008.
"I was not aware whether my mother was a member or not at that time, and at that time I was studying," she told a news conference.
Dyana said her mother (right) had asked her to help with the registration exercise.
"Yes, at that time she was involved with Perkasa but for few months; after that she left because she no longer believed in Perkasa," she said.
Dyana was asked to comment on the circulation of a photograph of her helping Yammy at the launch of the Perkasa website and a membership campaign in 2008.
On her mother's position as a committee member of Perkasa, she said her mother was a member of the pro-tem committee and had left the organisation before the first general meeting.
"I am not sure whether she was a registered member with Perkasa before the AGM or not ... my mother is an Umno member; I am not.
"Maybe she was involved in Perkasa, I was not. Maybe this should not be an issue," she said.
Previously, Dyana had denied that her mother was a member of Perkasa.
Meanwhile, newspapers today reported that Gopeng Wanita Umno head Hamidah Osman said Yammy was one of the pro-tem leaders of Perkasa and was its first head of the women's wing.
Hamidah said the information was gleaned from Perkasa secretary Syed Hassan Syed Ali who said that Yammy was on the pro-tem committee until the first annual general meeting in March 2010 before resigning.
She claimed that up to now there had been no record to show that Yammy had resigned as a Perkasa member. - Bernama
Mah pledges a varsity, heritage listing for leaning tower if voted in
TELUK INTAN May 26:
Datuk Mah Siew Keong has promised greater development for Teluk Intan, including getting its leaning tower listed as a heritage site should he win the by-election on Saturday.
Launching his election manifesto this morning, the Gerakan president explained that a United Nations Education, Scientific Cultural Organisation (Unesco) recognition for the historical site could benefit the tourism industry as it had in Penang and Malacca.
In 2008, both Malacca and George Town, Penang, were crowned as World Heritage sites by the international body.
Mah promised to push for a university to be set up in the town to provide education opportunities and also create wireless Internet (WiFi) zones.
With the sporting community forced to travel to Sabak Bernam, 44km from here, to use a stadium, Mah said he would also lobby for a stadium to be built.
The former Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Minister, however, admitted that getting the leaning tower listed as a heritage site was “not an easy job” and could not be done overnight as he would have to liaise with seven ministries.
Mah said he would bank on Gerakan’s experience in Penang to get it done and promised to work from day one.
When asked why he only launched his manifesto today, with only four days left to campaign, Mah explained that he wanted to ensure his promises were feasible.
“I don’t want to make empty promises. I want to make sure that there is a good chance of them becoming a reality.
“I’m not promising big things, but important wants,” he said at a press conference at the party’s headquarters here.
Present was Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe.
Mah then said he was confident of achieving 80% of his promises in five years if elected as the Member of Parliament.
A leaflet of his manifesto, which was later distributed to journalists, saw Mah promising to develop the constituency as a food hub in Hilir Perak and an integrated riverfront development to boost tourism here.
Mah said he would strive to improve the water supply and irrigation system as well as turn Teluk Intan into a modern agriculture centre that would be able to churn out value-added products.
Mah faces Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, of DAP, in the by-election.
The Rakyat Post
Datuk Mah Siew Keong has promised greater development for Teluk Intan, including getting its leaning tower listed as a heritage site should he win the by-election on Saturday.
Launching his election manifesto this morning, the Gerakan president explained that a United Nations Education, Scientific Cultural Organisation (Unesco) recognition for the historical site could benefit the tourism industry as it had in Penang and Malacca.
In 2008, both Malacca and George Town, Penang, were crowned as World Heritage sites by the international body.
Mah promised to push for a university to be set up in the town to provide education opportunities and also create wireless Internet (WiFi) zones.
With the sporting community forced to travel to Sabak Bernam, 44km from here, to use a stadium, Mah said he would also lobby for a stadium to be built.
The former Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Minister, however, admitted that getting the leaning tower listed as a heritage site was “not an easy job” and could not be done overnight as he would have to liaise with seven ministries.
Mah said he would bank on Gerakan’s experience in Penang to get it done and promised to work from day one.
When asked why he only launched his manifesto today, with only four days left to campaign, Mah explained that he wanted to ensure his promises were feasible.
“I don’t want to make empty promises. I want to make sure that there is a good chance of them becoming a reality.
“I’m not promising big things, but important wants,” he said at a press conference at the party’s headquarters here.
Present was Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe.
Mah then said he was confident of achieving 80% of his promises in five years if elected as the Member of Parliament.
A leaflet of his manifesto, which was later distributed to journalists, saw Mah promising to develop the constituency as a food hub in Hilir Perak and an integrated riverfront development to boost tourism here.
Mah said he would strive to improve the water supply and irrigation system as well as turn Teluk Intan into a modern agriculture centre that would be able to churn out value-added products.
Mah faces Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, of DAP, in the by-election.
The Rakyat Post
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
Sunday, 18 May 2014
Dyana May Not Get the Malay Votes
IPOH: DAP may not necessarily secure the Malay vote despite its choice of a Malay candidate in 26-year-old Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud for the coming Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election.
The Penang Malay Congress (PMC) president and a third voice proponent, Rahmad Isahak, said this is because DAP is against the adoption of hudud (Syariah Criminal Enactment) legislation.
The political scenario has changed since April, last year when Barisan Nasional regained federal power despite losing the popularity vote while three states opted for Pakatan Rakyat.
Now, polarisation has seeped into the fabric of Malaysian society, and DAP is not looked upon favourably by many Malays, who are predominantly Muslims, said Rahmad.
“While DAP may profess that the proposed law is unconstitutional or anti-secular, Muslims accept hudud as an integral part of Islam. As Muslims, we cannot reject it,” he said.
The pressure is actually now on Dyana Sofya, a political secretary to DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang to convince her comrades that the party must accept hudud, added Rahmad.
“Otherwise, she may only end up antagonising the Malay ground in Teluk Intan,” said Rahmad. “Also, the move by DAP is seen as insincere.”
Mah can regain Chinese support
He said if DAP wanted to showcase its multi-racialism and that it does not practise nepotism, it should have fielded more Malays or Indians as candidates in the last general election.
“The best state should have been Penang, where the demographics show an almost equal number of Malays and Chinese voters,” he said.
As for Gerakan, which is contesting on behalf of Barisan, Rahmad said the federal coalition has a chance, provided its anointed candidate Mah Siew Keong is a strategist.
Mah is the new Gerakan president and the 53-year-old is up against a 26-year-old. It is shaping up to be an interesting encounter, said Rahmad.
A veteran against a novice, but DAP has an edge going in, as it is a party of incumbency, having held the seat twice since 2008, he said.
“But, Mah is a local boy, and if he can regain support among the Chinese, perhaps from 17% to 30%, the seat could be re-taken by Barisan,” said Rahmad.
The Penang Malay Congress (PMC) president and a third voice proponent, Rahmad Isahak, said this is because DAP is against the adoption of hudud (Syariah Criminal Enactment) legislation.
The political scenario has changed since April, last year when Barisan Nasional regained federal power despite losing the popularity vote while three states opted for Pakatan Rakyat.
Now, polarisation has seeped into the fabric of Malaysian society, and DAP is not looked upon favourably by many Malays, who are predominantly Muslims, said Rahmad.
“While DAP may profess that the proposed law is unconstitutional or anti-secular, Muslims accept hudud as an integral part of Islam. As Muslims, we cannot reject it,” he said.
The pressure is actually now on Dyana Sofya, a political secretary to DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang to convince her comrades that the party must accept hudud, added Rahmad.
“Otherwise, she may only end up antagonising the Malay ground in Teluk Intan,” said Rahmad. “Also, the move by DAP is seen as insincere.”
Mah can regain Chinese support
He said if DAP wanted to showcase its multi-racialism and that it does not practise nepotism, it should have fielded more Malays or Indians as candidates in the last general election.
“The best state should have been Penang, where the demographics show an almost equal number of Malays and Chinese voters,” he said.
As for Gerakan, which is contesting on behalf of Barisan, Rahmad said the federal coalition has a chance, provided its anointed candidate Mah Siew Keong is a strategist.
Mah is the new Gerakan president and the 53-year-old is up against a 26-year-old. It is shaping up to be an interesting encounter, said Rahmad.
A veteran against a novice, but DAP has an edge going in, as it is a party of incumbency, having held the seat twice since 2008, he said.
“But, Mah is a local boy, and if he can regain support among the Chinese, perhaps from 17% to 30%, the seat could be re-taken by Barisan,” said Rahmad.
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