TELUK INTAN For DAP, last night wasn’t just a battleground between BN and the party, as it faced tough competition to get badminton fans to attend its Super Sunday ceramah to hear the message from its heavyweight leaders.

Yet, thousands turned up near OCBC Bank on Jalan Mahkota, where PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim arrived for the first time in the 12-day campaign period.

Last night was another success for DAP, which raised some RM27,000 from the crowd, with one  businessman alone donating RM20,000. The emcee announced there had been a 5,000-strong crowd turnout.

A man said his whole family came for the ceramah instead of staying at home to watch the Thomas Cup finals, in which Malaysia was defeated by Japan.

DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang urged the crowd to support candidate Dyana Sofia Mohd Daud, to allow the momentum of DAP’s huge victory in Bukit Gelugor by-election to continue in Teluk Intan.

“ Ubah, satu kali lagi , (Change, one more time),” shouted the crowd when led by DAP member Hew Kuan Yau ( right ), who also urged the voters allow the tsunami to appear in the constituency.

The crowd stood up and greeted Anwar upon his arrival. The PKR de facto leader urged the crowd to abandon Gerakan as the party is “useless” (tak boleh pakai), with its parliamentarian remaining silent in the House and when in the cabinet.

“I know this, I’ve chaired cabinet meetings, and whatever the acting Umno president said, all the others said ‘yes’,” he said.

Anwar addressed the crowd in a sarcastic manner to address BN’s strategy that the BN candidate will be made a full minister if he wins.

“We need those leaders with wisdom and courage, and not those who kiss hands,” said Anwar, urging the voters to adapt to the new politics.

“DAP fielded Dyana, I am happy, though I do not know her well, I trust DAP’s choice,” he said, adding if she manages to pass the test of Umno’s gutter politics, she will represent the future of Malaysians.

“I have read about a minister who said 'Dyana is not so pretty'. This is okay with me. Some even said 'this is not obvious'. Thank you for spelling out what is so obvious,” said Dyana ( right ), who was clad in a baju kurung and appeared with a more confident look.

Though without naming anybody, Dyana was obviously referring to Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

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