There are many reasons why Umno fears Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud’s candidacy in the Teluk Intan by-election. Umno is therefore going all out to ensure her defeat.

I had on May 18 said that Umno is no doubt frightened of the two special qualities that Dyana has displayed - her courage and her “Malaysian first” commitment.

Dyana, an UiTM graduate, had last year bravely suggested that a UiTM-type university be set up to help the non Malays as she  felt sorry for her non-Malay friends who were denied the right to pursue their education at higher learning institutions.

As a result of her brave suggestion, she was labelled a traitor and fiercely attacked. Yet she stood her ground and fought back and roared like a tigress.

In her rebuttal, she pointed out that while UiTM had a noble objective, which is to help needy students; its purpose had changed over the years. She said she remembers having a junior that was a daughter of a then-minister, driving around in a Peugeot in campus.

She argued that if UiTM was able to provide the same privilege - a good degree with a minimum fee - to students from high-income families, needy non-Malay citizens should also be given the same treatment.

She put the Selangor Umno chief to shame when she declared:  “I am patriotic enough to look at the hardships of my fellow Malaysians and walk in their shoes. I suggest that Datuk Noh Omar and Barisan Nasional leaders like him do the same.”

There is no doubt that Parliament will be more “exciting and challenging” for Umno MPs if Dyana is elected into Parliament.

It is an undeniable fact that for many Umno leaders, true messages can hurt but the “messenger” can hurt more.

Dyana, a Malaysian Malay, is certainly going to be the “messenger” who will be a true voice of the people inside and outside the Parliament.

BN has campaigned on the theme that Dyana is young and inexperienced. This is a most unconvincing line as many BN and opposition MPs were elected MPs when they were less than 30 years of age.

Gerakan leaders must not underestimate the voters’ intelligence. They should remember that DAP first won the seat, then known as Teluk Anson, in the 1969 general election when Chan Fu King defeated then-MCA health minister Dr Ng Kam Poh in one of the major upsets. They should know why Chan, a bus conductor then, was able to beat a minister.

Nevertheless, I wish to challenge Mah Siew Keong to state his stand on the brave proposal made by Dyana - that  an UiTM type university be set up to help non Malays to pursue a good degree with minimum fees.

Dyana has shown her courage and Malaysian first commitment in making the proposal; let’s see what Mah’s stand on this issue is and if he is as brave as Dyana.

TERESA KOK is DAP national vice-chairperson and MP for Seputeh.