Dirty campaign in full swing with fake bikini photo

A fake bikini photograph of DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, which first appeared on the Internet, has re-emerged in a number of Malay villages a week into the Teluk Intan by-election campaign.

DAP's Pasir Pinji assemblyperson Lee Chuan How today lodged a police report regarding the flyers containing the photograph, which were also found at the Kampung Banjar mosque.

The flyers, which show a photo of Dyana alongside with the photo of a woman in pink bikini, do not indicate those responsible for them.

The flyers were discovered by PAS members at Changkat Jong yesterday, and this was subsequently brought to the attention of DAP.

"We call on BN candidate Mah Siew Keong to denounce this act of slander as he has said that he does not want to engage in any smear campaigns," Lee told reporters after lodging the report at the Hilir Perak district police headquarters this evening.

Netizens have pointed out that the photo, which was earlier posted in pro-BN blogs (right), is really that of Filipino actress Pauleen Luna.

This the first time the photos are surfacing in the campaign.

In an immediate reaction, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang questioned Gerakan president Mah's pledge for a clean campaign in the by-election.

"How can Mah allow such a dastardly act to character-assassinate his opponent, Dyana?" he said.

'Who's in control - Mah or Umno?'

Lim also queried whether Mah was in control of his own election campaign.

"Or is Mah and Gerakan completely helpless..., just as the Gerakan leaders had always been lost at sea in BN national decision-making ... as their only role is to say 'Yes' to whatever Umno had decided with no powers or right of saying 'No' or to help influence the BN decision-making process," he said.

Lim added that Dyana has not only been subjected to character assassination by Umno leaders but also Mah's own Gerakan lieutenants.

Gerakan advisor Chang Ko Youn has today described Dyana as someone who did not have "freedom of speech and mind" and was being controlled by party leaders like a puppet.

Meanwhile, Gerakan's Simpang Renggam MP Liang Teck Meng had also accused Dyana of lying after she declared that she will vote against hudud in Parliament.