TELUK INTAN, May 27 — Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud’s popularity has made her a celebrity in Teluk Intan, with voters and youths lining to take photos of her and with her along her by-election campaign trail.

Sensing that the DAP hopeful is hogging the limelight, Barisan Nasional (BN) brought popular singer Jamal Abdillah to its rally last night to court voters.

Jamal, 55, a Teluk Intan native, backed BN in front of a crowd of thousands last night.

“Don’t forget to go out to vote, and vote BN!” he shouted from the stage, and his audience responded with a loud cheer.

When he arrived earlier in matching denim jacket and jeans, complete with his trademark sunglasses, Jamal took the attention away from Umno’s Pasir Salak MP Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

He then took the stage and some of the audience crowded the stage to take his photos and videos using their smartphones.

Jamal performed three sets, interspersed between political speeches from Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan, BN’s candidate Datuk Mah Siew Keong, former Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) vice-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah, and Umno’s popular preacher Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya.

He first sang the “Mari Mengundi” song a capella, urging fellow voters to cast their ballots this weekend, and followed it up with his classic hits such as “Azura”, “Sepi Seorang Perindu” and “Keluhan Perantau”.

Barisan Nasional (BN) brought in popular singer Jamal Abdillah (left) to its rally last night to court voters. ― Picture by Saw Siow Feng

The predominantly Malay crowd was visibly excited at Jamal’s appearance, some mouthing the lyrics as Jamal sang.

The voter base in Teluk Intan is 42 per cent Chinese, 38 per cent Malay and 19 per cent Indian.