– Teo Nie Ching and R. Rajiv
The Malaysian Insider
May 20, 2014

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has described DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud as an inexperienced newbie in politics.

As a matter of fact, all of us are inexperienced newbies until we are given a chance to learn and to perform. Before he took his post as the Minister of Youth and Sports in 2013, Khairy too did not have any experience to serve as a minister. Does that mean our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had made a wrong decision to make him a cabinet minister?

It has been a year since Khairy assumed office on May 16, 2013. So our question to him is this: how would you rate your performance?

If he thinks he has failed the people, then when is he going to tender his resignation? If however, he thinks he has performed well, what made him think that our Dyana cannot deliver if she is given the mandate to serve?

In any event, Dyana is not completely inexperienced. She has served as the political secretary of Gelang Patah Member of Parliament for a year. Lim Kit Siang is undeniably one of the best role models for parliamentarians.

Khairy has also reminded voters that should Dyana be elected, she would not have access to federal agencies while serving the constituency but the situation would be different with Mah.

Khairy drawing a parallel between access of federal funds and quality of public service while totally precedented, Barisan Nasional needs to be reminded that it is their duty to serve the people and not simply Barisan Nasional voters in Barisan Nasional-governed constituencies.

The attitude of openly threatening voters into choosing BN candidates is uncouth and arrogant. Statements like this do not only seek to intimidate the voters but also shows the true colours of the BN politicians as master manipulators of the Malaysian society.

By falling back to this type of “I help you, you help me” politics, it is evident that Khairy, despite being a rising star in Umno and a popular leader among young Malaysians, has failed to cultivate new politics that emphasises good governance, fairness and equality.

Unlike Khairy, Dyana has vowed to embrace new politics, ie breaking racial and religious barriers, and finding the perfect formula for a Malaysian “teh tarik, which is loved by all”. Despite being a newbie, she definitely deserved to be given a chance. – May 20, 2014.

* This is a joint media statement by DAP assistant national publicity secretary-cum-MP for Kulai, Teo Nie Ching, and Bukit Gasing Selangor state assemblyman, R. Rajiv.