After reminding BN supporters not to be obsessed with DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the Teluk Intan by-election is not a beauty pageant.

"The Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election is not a beauty pageant, the credibility of candidates is more important," he retweeted his comments published in an English daily.

At a press conference in Teluk Intan later, Khairy described Dyana as an inexperienced newbie in politics compared to BN candidate Mah Siew Keong, who was a deputy minister.

He reminded voters that should Dyana be elected, she would not have access to federal agencies while serving the constituency but the situation would be different with Mah.

"Teluk Intan voters should not just look at the (candidates') age, but look at their wisdom," he said.

Yesterday, Khairy had tweeted: "We need to re-calibrate our campaign in Teluk Intan to promote our candidate and quit this obsession with our opponent."

Khairy's remarks prompted former Bar Council president S Ambiga (left) to respond: “Could you explain your reference to beauty pageant in relation to Dyana. Don't you think this is sexist?”

The minister, however, did not think so.

“No, it's not. In fact this obsession over looks is also unfair on her. Judge them by their ideas and policy platform,” he added.

To this, Ambiga tweeted: “Ok. I agree that they should both be judged on merit. Your reference to beauty pageant sends a different message.”

Action on Dyana's mum not priority

Meanwhile, commenting on NGO Veteran Umno's call to sack Dyana Sofya's mother (right) from Umno at a press conference in Teluk Intan, Khairy said this was not a priority for the party.

“We (Umno) have disciplinary processes, we don't simply suspend membership or sack members,” he explained, adding that there must be issuance of a show cause letter and an internal hearing.

Asked if Yammy's support for her daughter's campaign is a violation of party rule, Khairy said: "You can ask me five times, 10 times in different ways, but I'll (give) you the same answer...(that) this matter is not our priority.”

Yammy is a member of Kampung Tersusun Tawas Tambahan Umno branch under the Ipoh Barat Umno division and was once the Ipoh Wanita Umno secretary.

She joined Umno at 18 and said she will continue to support her only daughter and youngest child although she is from a different party.

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