TELUK INTAN Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil warned DAP’s Teluk Intan by-election candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud not to become a traitor while shaking the latter’s hands at the nomination centre in Teluk Intan this morning.

Dyana told reporters after a walkabout today that Shahrizat ( centre in photo ) warned her not to become a “traitor”, in reminding of the fact that Dyana was an Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) graduate.

But Dyana brushed off the warning, saying that she felt “zen” (peaceful) about the whole incident, and told Shahrizat she would not become a traitor.

“I take it as good advice. I would never become a traitor for Malaysia, don’t worry,” Dyana said.

She also said that she did not understand why someone’s university should become a benchmark for the choice of political parties.

“UiTM is also built with taxpayers’ money,” she said.

In a statement later, Dyana criticised Umno for the notion that the party owned UiTM.

 

"The extent of this ‘forced takeover’ of UiTM by Umno has even resulted in Umno leaders labelling me a traitor for being a candidate of DAP.

"Apparently according to these Umno leaders, UiTM alumni are not supposed to do that. When did joining UiTM made us Umno members?

"It is highly ironic that Umno is claiming that UiTM students should support Umno as this is the same party that discourages students from being active in politics," she said.

'Attacks on mother unfair'

Dyana, 27, also said that it is not fair for her mother, Yammy Samat (below) , to be subjected to attacks due to her candidature.

 

"I don't think it is fair. But she can take these attacks better than me. She has been in politics since she was 19," Dyana said.

Berita Harian today reported that Veteran Umno, an association of the party's old-school members, had called for Yammy's sacking as an Umno member for backing her daughter in DAP.

Umno supreme council members Razali Ibrahim had also challenged Dyana to call for the closure of MCA's Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) which he claimed was dominated by one race after she spoke out against UiTM's race-based policies.

 

Dyana there is no need for her to call for the closure of Utar because "it is open to all Malaysians."

She added that access to education should be accorded to all qualified hard-working and deserving Malaysians, irrespective of race, religion, region, gender and political affliation.

"While a student in UiTM, I noticed the discrepancy where rich children of Umno leaders were admitted into UiTM while poorer but more qualified non-Umno linked families were shut out," she said.

 

Meanwhile, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang ( left ), who accompanied Dyana (next to Lim) in a walkabout at the Glutton Square hawker centre at the city centre today, said that DAP's chances of winning the by-election was only 40 percent.

 

"I am worried that the Chinese might not vote for her. But we are taking a risk, because we feel it is time that Malaysia moves beyond the racial barrier," he said.

 

He said that DAP would work hard to ensure that it had at least a 50 percent chance of winning before the elections on May 31.

Related stories

It's straight DAP-BN fight for Teluk Intan

KJ: Get a grip boys, it ain't a beauty pageant

'Shahrizat warned me not to be a traitor'

BN's Mah accepts uphill battle in Teluk Intan

Disappointed with Dyana, Dr M gives parenting tip

DAP furious over 'bikini inside job' claim

Guan Eng mocks MCA for attacks on Dyana

MCA: Razali wrong to link Utar with racial issues

'Why doesn't Dyana ask for Utar's closure?'

Umno veteran wants Dyana's mum sacked

'Protest hudud, punish DAP in by-elections'

Gerakan 'jantan' unlike MCA, says Kadir

Candidates agree not to engage in personal attacks

Shahrizat loses hands down in women's rights

Will Teluk Intan be Mah's 'bye-election'?

Politics aside, many are smitten by Dyana