KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — After days of speculation, DAP announced over the weekend that it has picked political novice Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud as its candidate for the Teluk Intan by-election,
The fresh-faced young Malay woman has her work cut out for her as she fights to represent a Chinese-majority constituency.
Here are three things we have learnt about Dyana Sofya’s selection:
1. Age is nothing, but a number
If elected, Dyana, 26, will become Malaysia’s youngest MP now, replacing the baby of the current crop. Zairil Khir Johari who represents Bukit Bendera is 30. Zairil is also from DAP.
Even if Dyana does not win the contest, DAP has proven itself as the party that is most willing to put its trust in the younger generation, regardless of race, even stealing a march on its Pakatan Rakyat allies, PKR and PAS.
Besides Zairil, Dyana also follows the steps of Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong, Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto, and Lanang MP Alice Lau, among others.
Most of them were in Teluk Intan lending their support.
Dyana’s youth is an easy target for her critics, who accuse her of political immaturity and paint her as a puppet for her political masters.
On the flipside, Dyana’s youth also means that it is hard for detractors to unearth skeletons in her closet.
Their best efforts so far was a picture of a starlet in a bikini, which turned out to be of a Filipino celebrity.
Another picture showed Dyana standing beside the controversial Datuk Ibrahim Ali.
Yet another, a doctored effort, showed Dyana hugging a puppy.
While Dyana’s idealism might be seen as naïveté to some, many also find her gumption and candour particularly refreshing.
2. Nobody really expected this fight to be exciting
Without the right accreditation, a number of reporters stood outside the nomination centre on Monday. Some agencies did not even bother sending reporters.
Most had not applied for media passes from the Election Commission (EC), which would have allowed them to enter the tightly-secured nomination centre.
When DAP nominated Dyana, many were caught by surprise and suddenly the Teluk Intan by-election has become the top draw — making the Bukit Gelugor poll staid in comparison.
As of Monday, some news agencies were still scrambling to apply for the media passes and to find fast vanishing hotel rooms.
3. Sexism is still entrenched across the political divide
Her youthful good looks have put Dyana in the spotlight apparently. So alarming has been the attention that Umno Youth chief, Khairy Jamaluddin had to remind his party to give more attention to BN’s candidate rather than DAP’s.
What is more disturbing is the fact that some Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders themselves played up Dyana’s appearance in order to drum up support from voters. That was apparent in Dyana’s first rally on Sunday night.
PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and his PAS counterpart, Mohamad Sabu, were among the worst offenders, when they joked among each other during their speeches about Dyana’s availability for marriage.
Several other PKR and PAS leaders also made remarks on Dyana’s looks, with most calling it a bonus on top of her other capabilities.
In return, supporters during the rally baldly greeted Dyana as if she was a starlet on the make, making themselves heard with hoots, wolf-whistles, marriage proposals, and flirtatious remarks.
Dyana told the Malay Mail Online she was unfazed by the attention.
Her priorities are simple: Win Teluk Intan and start something to undermine racial politics.
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