Teluk Intan by-election: Dyana Sofya ‘incurs wrath’ of former UiTM students

PORT KLANG: The DAP candidate for Teluk Intan parliamentary constituency Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud has been ticked off for undermining Universiti Teknologi Mara's (UiTM) role in providing educational privileges to the Malays and other bumiputras.

Persatuan Belia Bersatu Klang president Muhammad Akmal Ridzuan Abd Rahim said as a law graduate from UiTM, Dyana Sofya should realise that the varsity was set up to help the Malays and bumiputras under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

"She should not drag UiTM into politics to garner non-Malay votes and I do not see any need for UiTM to open its doors to non-Malays as they are accepted by 20 other public universities, apart from private universities and colleges.

"Former UiTM students are deeply saddened over her remarks," said Muhammad Akmal Ridzuan, who holds a Diploma in Business Management from Segamat UiTM, Johor.

A Diploma in Banking holder from Malacca UiTM, Zaitul Hazrul Zulkifli said Dyana Sofya had committed three errors, namely objecting the implementation of PAS’ hudud in Kelantan, becoming a DAP member, and undermining the role of UiTM.

A Diploma in Science holder from UiTM in Kuala Pilah, Norshahirah Shaharuddin refuted Dyana Sofia's claim that UiTM catered only for Umno members' children. Instead she said it enrolled many poor students irrespective of their families’ political beliefs at low fees.

Malaysian Indians Welfare Association president A. Prakash said Dyana Sofya was not mature enough to represent Teluk Intan in the Dewan Rakyat and if she were elected, it could be detrimental to the constituency that still needed development.

He labelled Dyana Sofia a DAP puppet as she was fielded to garner sympathy votes from the Malays as the party thrived along racial lines.

"Being Teluk Intan-born, I feel that the constituency needs an experience campaigner to chart its development," he told a news conference here on Sunday.

Dyana Sofia, 27, faces Barisan Nasional's Datuk Mah Siew Keong, 52, in the by-election set for May 31. - Bernama