Dyana Sofya and The Teluk Intan by-election

Dyana may just be the beginning

 

The nomination of Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, the 27year old Malay woman as the DAP candidate for the Teluk Intan Parliamentary by-election caught everyone by surprise. Although it may be a strategic political move by DAP to ward off Umno’s relentless attacks of anti-Malay anti-Islam, it nevertheless was a good move coming at a time when DAP is vehemently opposing the introduction of hudud laws in the country and facing the wrath of Malay and Islamic groups.

Umno-BN seemed to have been caught off-guard with a new young Malay woman as the DAP candidate. To make matters worse her mother who veteran Umno member is supportive of her candidature. We expect the ruling party to go all out to discredit Dyana using racial and religious sentiments against her with the help of the mainstream media. We expect Dyana and her family to be unduly harassed for challenging Umno-BN on behalf of its enemy and ‘infidel’ DAP. Will Umno-BN’s usual tactics work this time against a Malay candidate from a predominantly Chinese party which Umno  has labelled  as being anti-Malay and anti-Islam?

Whatever it is Umno appears to be rattled as can be seen by top Unmo leaders like Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and even Tun Dr. Mahathir being quick to criticize Dyana and her mother as being a traitors to Umno and calling on the Malays not to vote for her. This is really being unfair and undemocratic.

Dyana, being young and inexperienced, may lose the elections but she has revealed the fact that the younger generation of educated Malays are beginning to question the misdeeds of the long ruling Umno and may be beginning to abandon it altogether. This is the greatest fear for Umno that its future is no more secured as it used to be for over 5 decades.

The results of the Teluk Intan by-election may not make any significance to the power balance in parliament but a victory for Dyana would send a clear signal to Umno-BN that a new generation of young and educated Malays who are committed to democracy, justice and fair-play for all Malaysians are emerging and are going take over in the future to create a fair and just Malaysia for all citizens.

We salute Dyana for her courage to take on the mighty Umno-BN and its machinery in this elections and we wish her every success. Dyana may just be the beginning and her victory may encourage many others like her to come to the forefront.

In a situation of hopelessness with increasing racial and religious tensions, Malaysians are seeing a ray of hope in young Dyana. The by-election is another a test of the wisdom of the voters and we hope and pray they will not let the people down.