Dyana Sofya & DAP must avoid perilous princess path

Malaysiakini's news title Politics aside, many are smitten by Dyana says its all.

Yes, it's been a while since I come across the word 'smitten', wakakaka.

An undoubtedly infatuated MKINI reader gushes: What a refreshing change. For the life of me, I couldn't imagine there is such a level headed, intelligent, young and beautiful Malaysian woman who would be interested to run for public office.

I am spellbound. I am gobsmacked. This young lady rocks. Just when I thought all is lost, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud struts along and proved me wrong.

Another, somewhat preposterously acclaims: Prediction: In year 2064, Malaysia will have its equivalence of Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and the likes who will lead their people out of darkness.

Since independence, we have seen the Malay society falling into a path that has led to the predicament we see today.

In the next 50 years, the chosen one will emerge to lead the Malay society out of their age of darkness. This chosen one is now living in our midst waiting to emerge. Is Dyana the One?

One blogger cheekily advised DAP to print more posters of her as he claimed many would like to keep them as souvenirs, wakakaka. Some supporters have even prematurely named her as the Intan (Diamond) of DAP, based on the federal constituency's name. 

And poor KJ, pissed off with BN younger members somewhat enamoured with Dyana, wakakaka, reminded them (hopefully unsuccessfully, wakakaka):

"The Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election is not a beauty pageant, the credibility of candidates is more important." 

It's clear that a new icon has arisen in the Malaysian political landscape. Some new fans have crowned her as Princess Dyana, a play on a tragically ill-fated member of the British royalty.

No sirree man, surely not a good title for Dyana Sofya, whose new found popularity, I suspect, might perhaps have been enhanced by the rather exotic spelling of her French-sounding name (through replacing the i's with y's), and which must be credited to her parents rather than her.

But DAP supporters, please do not trivialize her professional qualifications and political ability by over emphasizing on her physical attributes. Treat her Vogue-Elle-Cosmopolitan front page-like looks as a bonus rather than as her core assets. 

In my previous post The necessary Malay-nization of DAP I advocated for the DAP to nominate more Malay candidates and thus I was absolutely rapt that the party selected one to contest in the Teluk Intan by-election. I of course paid my tribute to the DAP for that brave decision especially after cyber-scums had attempted to smear Dyana's reputation which I fear might have jeopardised her reputation with the Malay voters in TI.

I have to admit I was initially carried away by my delight in her candidacy into suggesting she'll be known as the Tigress of Teluk Intan, based on her avowal to 'roar' like Katy Perry's song against her opponents (extracts of Katy Perry's 'Roar' below):

You held me down, but I got up (hey!)
Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, your hear that sound
Like thunder, gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up
Get ready 'cause I had enough
I see it all, I see it now

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter
Dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar!

In retrospect, I really shouldn't have, not at least until she has won the seat and proven herself as the MP for TI.

Thus the DAP party must not fall into the same perilous act taken by PKR supporters for Nurul Izzah by crowning or encouraging the crowning of Dyana Sofya as the new Pakatan Princess, nor of over-crowing about her qualities and political potential.

In my post 3 sweeties, only 1 real Princess Reformasi I discussed how poor Nurul Izzah had found herself caught in a religious trap of her own making when in a forum titled“Islamic state? Which vision? Whose responsibility”?, she voiced her open support for freedom of religion for all Malaysians, including Malays.

Naturally UMNO jumped on her for advocating apostasy for Muslims. The poor sweetie, realizing the religious enormity of what she had uttered, must have been panicked into seeking desperate help from Dr Asri, the former Mufti of Perlis. 

Naturally sweetie Nurul denied supporting apostasy and, I believe, went on to sue Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian for allegedly twisting her words.

However, the person who asked her the question which led to her alleged controversial statement was none other than sweetie Siti Kasim, a member of the Bar Council human rights committee and Orang Asli rights advocate.

In the midst of the UMNO-generated brouhaha over Nurul's alleged statement, Siti Kasim came out to say that she was disappointed with Nurul for backing away from her statement that freedom of religion was a right for all including the Malay-Muslims. She lamented that Nurul has failed to stand firm on her remark.

Siti Kasim said: “I believe Nurul was just trying to impress the people. She didn't think of the consequences. There’s nothing wrong about it [freedom of religion], she is saying the truth. I expected a hoo-ha after that. But as a politician, you just need to stick to the truth."

"In the following days she ‘retracted’ her remark, and said she did not support apostasy. But indirectly when you say you support freedom of religion, and if Malay wants to get out from Islam, that’s apostasy.”

Forget about Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian, but examine sweetie Siti Kasim's words. Now, why did sweetie Nurul do what sweetie Siti said she did?

Did Nurul feel that in her admittedly unsolicited role as Princess Reformasi she had to make such daring statements? - statements which would have been a courageous politico-religious watershed without dire consequences if not made within the highly, sinister and deliberately politicized religious environment of Peninsula Malaysia.

But that bad bad experience had been a mighty awful stumble for Her Royal Reformasi-ness. She's been very quiet since.

Therein her nasty experience, we ought to be aware there is danger in over boosting, over elevating and over exposing young politicians too way up high. When they can't cope due to their inexperience (unlike some thick skin old farts), they'll fall heavily like Humpty Dumpty where then all the King's horses and men couldn't put sweetie together again.

As we know, sweetie Nurul has been one of the sacred cows of PKR and has been even preposterously touted as Anwar Ibrahim's replacement as the putative leader for Pakatan should our Manmanlai be not around. That suggestion has been one of the most impractical and immature proposals to come from Pakatan supporters. C'mon, give sweetie a chance to gain more experience lah!

It sure as hell didn't help when a few days after Nurul's fright at being accused of allegedly promoting apostasy, Tian Chua's Malaysian Chronicle came out with an article titled Nurul is an Angel in our midst. Mashitah Ibrahim, you are a spinning pathological liar, wakakaka, though I noted then no one dared criticized Siti Kasim for saying what she said about Nurul, wakakaka.

And I did wonder whether the Malaysian Chronicle had then upgraded or downgraded Nurul from Princess Reformasi to Angel, wakakaka.

But that is the same danger that Dyana may face from the no-doubt mercenary mauraiding mafulat-ish cyber-scums who will go all out to destroy her character, more so if the DAP or supporters over elevates and over exposes her from what she wants to be, a hardworking politician who wishes to serve the people of TI as their representative in Parliament.

In the short term she faces danger from a very experienced Gerakan Mah, a two-term MP for TI, and sadly, also from disatisfied local DAP people who might resent her selection as the DAP candidate for the by-election.

It's up to the DAP to deal with the latter, but I would expect the BN to play and twist on her personal position on the hudud issue to both frighten the older Chinese and discredit her with the older Malays, despite her already assuming a stand not unlike that of DAP's Ariff Sabri (MP Raub).

On her plus side, she appeals to the younger generation and those who appreciate her disarming charms, unassuming airs, and quick wits, for example, when shown the bikini-ed photo of Filipino actress Pauleen Luna, Dyana said she admired Pauleen's physique and wished she had a similar figure, and then disarmingly quipped that she'd have to visit the gym more often.

Now that's her humour and quick wittiness in turning an embarrassing salacious situation to her credit as a cool, calm and composed politician.

The DAP, well aware of the adverse factors from both the BN and intra-party dissatisfaction, is currently positioning her as an underdog in the by-election. Tony Pua as the DAP campaign director for the by-election said it well in the Malay Mail Online, as follows:

“It’s an attempt, a game-changing attempt fraught with risk, but something that must be taken to pursue our ideals of a Malaysian Malaysia. If we were to lose the election, it’s a battle lost for a war to be won.”

Now Tony, ain't that better than the sky falling down, wakakaka.

Joceline Tan of the Star Online seems to agree when she wrote:

The DAP choice was between Dyana and one of the most famous names in the party, Hew Kuan Yau aka Superman. The former MP who died had reportedly wanted Hew to succeed him.

But Hew’s ultra-Chinese image would have sent the Malays running off and screaming in fright. Besides, this dying wish syndrome has to stop because it is making DAP look like a feudalistic party where seats are passed on to children and cronies.

Taking Dyana was a gamble but also a shrewd strategic move. The party is banking on her to be the game changer – a young, female and Malay face who can help to change the Chinese chauvinist image of the party for the better.

“Teluk Intan would have been a sure-win for DAP with a Chinese candidate. But they would only be defending what they already have. They want to send a message that they are for a new Malaysia,” said the above political analyst.

To inch closer to Putrajaya, they need to win this sort of mixed, semi-urban seats. If they lose, it is one seat down. If they win, however, they can go all over town blowing their trumpet.

In other words, DAP may face a tactical loss but will reap a strategic victory.

Pua continued: “She represents the ideal example of someone who looks beyond her race and subscribes to the Malaysian Malaysia.”

“If we forever think that voters are close-minded and unwilling to accept change, then we will never be able to initiate change.”

“Even if we win by 200 votes, it’ll give a chance for a Malay to serve the Chinese constituents and for them to see it’s not the race that matters. It’s the ability, it’s the party’s principles, and it’s the willingness to work for justice. So we’re asking for that option.”

As Confucius said: The journey of a thousand li* must start with the first step.

* (ancient Chinese measurement, about 500 metres)

Nazil Huhairi Ismail, chair of Persatuan Profesional Muda Islam Kedah, enthused about the candidacy of Dyana as a refreshing political step by the DAP, and sneered at old farts who clung on shamelessly, stated in TMI's Dyana Sofya: Langkah politik segar Malaysia:

Apa pun tujuannya, langkah meletakkan "wanita muda" sebagai calon membuka banyak ruang berfikir strategis dan memecah budaya politik usang. Fikiran bahawa ahli politik perlu berwatakan "elitis" dan berumur matang dapat dikikis.

Biar pun calon itu tidak "perform", namun stigma masyarakat yang takut untuk melakukan perubahan menukar "orang lama" merencatkan atmosfera politik. Orang politik dibarisi oleh muka-muka tua dan kurang bertenaga. Seperti daun pisang, walaupun sudah layu kering, tetap tidak gugur dari dahannya, demi mempertahan "kepisangan" mereka.

Landskap politik Malaysia harus berubah, perlu disegarkan oleh idea dan energi politikus muda. Orang muda, pemikirannya kritis, tenaganya kuat, ideanya pelbagai. Golongan muda ini harus diberi tempat di dalam kerangka politik untuk membina ketokohan dan menonjolkan bakat dengan tunjukajar orang lama.

Parti-parti politik mesti berani mempertaruh orang muda sebagai ayam tambatan mereka supaya terus relevan dengan perubahan semasa yang berteraskan derasnya teknologi maklumat. Maklumat hanya dihujung jari.

Realitinya, parti Umno dan PAS menjadi parti tertua tertubuh di bumi Malaysia ini semacam takut untuk menonjolkan orang muda sebagai calon mereka. Setiap kali pilihan raya, muka yang sama saja dikitar semula untuk dijadikan calon.

Walaupun ditolak rakyat bukan sekali, tetapi tetap bertanding disebabkan senioriti mereka. Ego sayang kuasa dilihat menguasai keputusan parti. Ini merencat segala potensi anak muda untuk memberi impak segar kepada politik negara.

Berlainan dengan PKR dan sekarang DAP yang sudah mengorak langkah membarisi kepimpinan mereka dengan tenaga muda. Memberi ruang dan peluang orang muda menggalas jawatan penting parti dan negeri. Pastinya mereka ini akan lebih matang dan bertokoh di masa hadapan dengan pengalaman yang dikutip semasa menjalankan tanggungjawab yang diberi.

I hope Nazil's opinion reflects the views of the younger generation, and if his age group in TI feels the same way, Dyana has a good chance of upsetting the far more experienced and wilier politician, Mah Siew Keong, Gerakan President.

Probably sensing the political sea change among younger Malays, A Kadir Jasin, former editor-in chief of the NST group and now a blogger, warned BN cybertroopers in his blog (picked up by TMI) Don’t blindly attack Dyana Sofya.

He said: "While the BN campaigners and their cyber troopers are having a field day maligning her, they should perhaps spare some time to understand why this sort of thing is happening. Why young educated Malays are joining DAP?"

"Leaders of the parties should look at themselves and not treat the rakyat with disdain."

"Just days ago, a former female deputy minister from Umno noted with alarm that the DAP’s internship programmes were attracting many young Malay participants, most of whom are well educated.”

"Dyana Sofya's youthfulness and look is an advantage. But it has to be something deeper than her looks. The fact that she is a young Malay woman representing a Chinese-dominated opposition party is, to me, the real fascination."

But regardless, we must not push Dyana Sofya along the perilous princess path trodden by the so-called Princess Reformasi (or Angel of PKR, wakakaka).