Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has questioned why the Teluk Intan by-election had taken a “sexist” approach compared to the current Bukit Gelugor campaign in Penang.

He said he has been receiving complaints that BN has turned the by-election focus away from the merits of the candidate, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud ( right ), and her capability as a young female lawyer.

He questioned why the campaign against Dyana is very different from that of Bukit Gelugor, where DAP’s candidate Ramkarpal Singh is also contesting.

He quipped, referring to fake photos of Dyana in a bikini circulating in pro-BN blogs, “We do not see photos of Ramkarpal in his swimming trunks”.

Ramkarpal had taken time off from his campaign to have lunch with Lim and other assemblypersons at the Penang state legislative assembly.

“This is a very sexist approach towards our woman candidate,” Lim said in a press conference at the Penang state legislative assembly’s meeting room today.

Lim was referring to the comment by Sports and Youths minister Khairy Jamaluddin who reminded supporters that the Teluk Intan by-election is not a “beauty contest, the credibility of candidates is more important”.

Lim said if BN wanted to attack Dyana for her inexperience at 27, the party should question the right for Malaysians to vote at 21.

“Experience does not come from with years, but what people go through. Let’s be frank, when I became a chief minister in 2008, I was inexperienced, too,” he said.

“The one quality we have in common is that we do not have experience in stealing money and in corruption,” he added.

On the latest photo of Dyana alongside Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali in a public function with her family published by Malaysiakini today, Lim said this would not have an impact on Chinese voters.

“She was there because of her parents. When we pass by each other in Parliament, we also greet Ibrahim when he was an MP then, there is no issue,” he said.

“It only becomes an issue if she supports Ibrahim’s ideology,” he added.

Lim said Dyana and her family had then visited a public event by Gua Musang MP Razaleigh Hamzah.

“He is not our friend but we have no problems with Razaleigh,” he added.

‘We cannot control our supporters’

On Pakatan Rakyat supporters also passing “sexist” remarks and sending out wolf whistles during a ceramah featuring Dyana, Lim replied, “We cannot control our supporters.”

He appeared unaware of the matter, but said, “It’s brave how Dyana fights back against all the accusations.

So far, Dyana had been labelled a “puppet”, “cosmetic” and “traitor” by Umno Wanita chief Sharizat Abdul Jalil.

Meanwhile, state executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin ( left ) said it was natural for details of the candidate’s background be publicised during election campaigns.

However, calling her a “traitor” and accusing her of “ingratitude" is unwarranted, he added.

Speaking as a former UiTM graduate, Afif said that the university was formed not for Umno members but for all Malaysians.

“It is not the exclusive right of Umno. I was there not because I support Umno. Both my parents do not support Umno, my grandfather was a PAS supporter,” he said.

“Still I was accepted to study in UiTM, not for my political allegiance but because of my good results,” he added.

“We, the new generation of Malays, believe in our own capability. Those who are from UiTM should remember we were taught to be good citizens and defend the country, that is why I joined PKR,” he stressed.

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