DAP’s defeat in the Teluk Intan by-election shows that Malays are not easily fooled by the opposition party, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) lecturer Hanafiah Harun has said.

An Umno Online report yesterday quoted Hanafiah as saying that the party tried to garner Malay support by fielding Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud as its candidate, but this backfired because voters were unmoved by DAP’s “cosmetic politics”.

"This is because, although (Dyana) is a Malay, her ideology and thinking are no longer that of a Malay," he said, citing Dyana’s criticism of UiTM’s exclusivity to Malay students, and her opposition to hudud.

"Therefore, during DAP’s campaign around Teluk Intan, we find that the people themselves expressed dissatisfaction towards the party, even to the extent where DAP campaigners were chased off by local residents and prevented from campaigning,” Hanafiah said.

Dyana was defeated by Gerakan candidate Mah Siew Keong, by a slim majority of 238 votes in last Saturday’s by-election.

DAP claimed in its analysis that it had a slight increase of three percent in Malay support, but suffered from both the low voter turnout and a drop in support from the Chinese and Indian voters.


Related stories

Umno issues show-cause letter to Dyana's mum

Dyana: DAP makes me feel truly Malaysian

Rid nation of cancer called DAP, says Isma

Umno reps ready to forgive Rayer if...

DAP rep argues for local council polls

Gobind: PAS' insistence on hudud to blame for defeat

'DAP's failure shows Malays not easily fooled'

Teluk Intan and cynicism, post-GE13

'Teluk Intan Indians did not desert DAP'

Always remember Teluk Intan

Defeat a blessing in disguise for Pakatan

DAP loses a seat but scores a political point