Dyana Sofya hits back at critics over photo in women’s magazine

Dyana Sofya at the launch of the 'Wake Up To A Good Cause' campaign at the Westin Hotel in Kuala Lumpur today. She says she is sad that even women are criticising her over what is essentially a good cause. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, March 18, 2015.DAP’s Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud hit back at her critics today, saying that a change in mindset is needed if people still associate bed with sex.

The former Teluk Intan by-election candidate recently received heavy criticism for taking part in a magazine photoshoot to raise awareness on violence against women.

She had posed on a bed for the campaign, called “Wake Up To A Good Cause” which aims to collect donations for Women's Aid Organisation (WAO).

Her critics, which included the likes of Puteri Umno and social media users were quick to attack her, saying that it was a shameful act and young women should not pose "like that" to attract attention.

Dyana said it is this type of mindset that needed to be changed if people can misinterpret a message she was trying to sent through the photoshoot.

"If you see a bed, and you don't think of sleep but of sex, then there is something wrong with you.

"There is nothing wrong with the photo, (but) there's definitely something wrong with your mindset. It is this kind of mindset that we are combating against," Dyana said.

"The sad reality is that our society is very misogynistic... For example, when I was in Teluk Intan, I have been getting all kinds of sexists remarks.

"Worse of all, some people think it is normal. It is okay, they said, because you are in politics. You (just) have to face it.

"But the thing is, it is wrong," she told The Malaysian Insider when met at the launch of the campaign by Marie Claire magazine today.

The campaign is aimed at creating awareness on violence against women while raising funds for WAO. It encourages the public to post an out-of-bed bare faced selfie of themselves and subsequently upload it to Instagram with the correct hashtags and caption. Marie Claire will then donate RM10 for each uploaded photo up to a total of RM21,000 to the WAO.

Dyana, who is also the political secretary to DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, added that society is still unaware of the different types of abuse that women faced.

"For example, the one that I faced because of the photograph. I did not get it only from the men but women as well. There were negative comments with some even saying that it is very seductive and suggestive," she said.

Dyana said she had not expected such negative comments over the photograph as her intention was to fight for a good cause.

"Honestly, I was not expecting that. So when I received the negative comments, it hit me. This is the main reason why we are fighting violence against women, because it is so apparent.

"And this is not even political," she said.

Dyana also denied talks that her involvement with the campaign was the beginning for her venture into a modeling career, saying that one does not have to be a model to pose in a magazine for a good cause.

"It is for a good cause... and this is not just about women's issues. This is about the community.

"As a politician, I believe I can help educate, raise awareness among the people. Because this is a real thing," she said.

- TMI