DAP tumbang di Teluk Intan, di mana silapnya...
Pilihan raya kecil
Parlimen Teluk Intan berakhir semalam. Dan DAP gagal mempertahankan
kerusi tersebut apabila calonnya, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud kalah tipis
kepada calon veteran BN, Datuk Mah Siew Keong majoriti 238.
Semasa pengiraan undi semalam, di peringkat awalnya, Dyana mendahului dengan majoriti besar sehingga mencecah lebih 2,000. Namun majoriti itu turun naik dan turus merosot pada satu ketika ia tinggal 25 undi sahaja, dan seterus tewas tipis kepada Mah.
Sekali imbas, DAP dilihat telah gagal menterjemahkan keghairahan yang mengiringi pencalonan Dyana kepada kempen yang boleh memenangkan mereka.
DAP bermula dengan penuh semangat selepas penamaan calon pada 19 Mei lalu, tetapi berakhir dengan kekalahan tipis semalam.
Ada pihak yang berpandangan bahawa Dyana, seorang wanita Melayu muda dari DAP - gagal diperkenalkan dengan baik kepada pengundi Melayu luar bandar yang kurang mesra dengan parti yang majoriti ahlinya masih lagi orang Cina.
Pengundi Melayu ini merupakan penyokong setia BN tetapi pada masa yang sama mempunyai rasa ingin tahu tentang wajah baru DAP itu.
Namun, DAP tidak menembusi kubu kuat BN/Umno dan hanya berpuas hati dengan siri-siri ceramah serta sesi ramah mesra calonnya bersama orang ramai.
DAP hanya mula melakukan lawatan rumah ke rumah di kawasan luar bandar dalam tempoh seperempat terakhir kempen mereka.
Peningkatan undi Melayu sebanyak 3 peratus sahaja kepada DAP seperti dinyatakan pengarah strateginya, Dr Ong Kian Ming adalah petunjuk jelas yang parti itu tidak menggunakan Dyana sepenuhnya untuk mencuri lebih banyak undi daripada BN.
Pada masa sama, DAP nampaknya juga tidak memahami demografi kerusi Parlimen ini yang merupakan campuran di antara kawasan bandar dan kawasan luar bandar.
Menurut satu sumber DAP, analisis awal mereka mendapati parti itu menggunakan strategi kempen kawasan bandar untuk berkempen di kawasan luar bandar.
Dengan 65 peratus daripada penduduk di sini terlibat dengan industri berasaskan pertanian, isu seperti cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST) dan urus tadbir kerajaan yang baik tidak mempunyai makna yang jelas buat pengundi di sini.
DAP pada awalnya mungkin menarik nafas lega apabila ceramah mega terakhir mereka sehari sebelum hari membuang undi menarik kira-kira 10,000 orang.
Namun, ia juga tidak diterjemahkan kepada undi apabila peratusan pengundi Cina yang merupakan majoriti mereka yang hadir pada majlis itu, merosot sebanyak 15 peratus.
Ini kerana, sewaktu tempoh kempen yang bermula pada 19 Mei genap seminggu, cabaran terbesar DAP untuk mengekalkan kerusi ini mula kelihatan jelas.
Peratusan keluar mengundi yang rendah seperti pilihan raya kecil Bukit Gelugor pada 25 Mei, berulang di Teluk Intan.
Akhirnya, BN kembali merampas kerusi ini apabila majoriti lebih 7,000 undi pada pilihan raya umum lalu kini hanya tinggal sejarah.
DAP mungkin boleh meletakkan beban kekalahan kepada pengundi luar Teluk Intan yang menyokong parti itu tetapi tidak pulang dalam jumlah yang cukup ramai untuk mengundi dan mengekalkan kemenangan mereka.
Namun, mereka ini juga tidak cukup dimotivasikan untuk pulang ke kampung bagi memastikan 'politik baru' yang dibawakan Dyana, menjadi satu kenyataan.- mk
Semasa pengiraan undi semalam, di peringkat awalnya, Dyana mendahului dengan majoriti besar sehingga mencecah lebih 2,000. Namun majoriti itu turun naik dan turus merosot pada satu ketika ia tinggal 25 undi sahaja, dan seterus tewas tipis kepada Mah.
Sekali imbas, DAP dilihat telah gagal menterjemahkan keghairahan yang mengiringi pencalonan Dyana kepada kempen yang boleh memenangkan mereka.
DAP bermula dengan penuh semangat selepas penamaan calon pada 19 Mei lalu, tetapi berakhir dengan kekalahan tipis semalam.
Ada pihak yang berpandangan bahawa Dyana, seorang wanita Melayu muda dari DAP - gagal diperkenalkan dengan baik kepada pengundi Melayu luar bandar yang kurang mesra dengan parti yang majoriti ahlinya masih lagi orang Cina.
Pengundi Melayu ini merupakan penyokong setia BN tetapi pada masa yang sama mempunyai rasa ingin tahu tentang wajah baru DAP itu.
Namun, DAP tidak menembusi kubu kuat BN/Umno dan hanya berpuas hati dengan siri-siri ceramah serta sesi ramah mesra calonnya bersama orang ramai.
DAP hanya mula melakukan lawatan rumah ke rumah di kawasan luar bandar dalam tempoh seperempat terakhir kempen mereka.
Peningkatan undi Melayu sebanyak 3 peratus sahaja kepada DAP seperti dinyatakan pengarah strateginya, Dr Ong Kian Ming adalah petunjuk jelas yang parti itu tidak menggunakan Dyana sepenuhnya untuk mencuri lebih banyak undi daripada BN.
Pada masa sama, DAP nampaknya juga tidak memahami demografi kerusi Parlimen ini yang merupakan campuran di antara kawasan bandar dan kawasan luar bandar.
Menurut satu sumber DAP, analisis awal mereka mendapati parti itu menggunakan strategi kempen kawasan bandar untuk berkempen di kawasan luar bandar.
Dengan 65 peratus daripada penduduk di sini terlibat dengan industri berasaskan pertanian, isu seperti cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST) dan urus tadbir kerajaan yang baik tidak mempunyai makna yang jelas buat pengundi di sini.
DAP pada awalnya mungkin menarik nafas lega apabila ceramah mega terakhir mereka sehari sebelum hari membuang undi menarik kira-kira 10,000 orang.
Namun, ia juga tidak diterjemahkan kepada undi apabila peratusan pengundi Cina yang merupakan majoriti mereka yang hadir pada majlis itu, merosot sebanyak 15 peratus.
Ini kerana, sewaktu tempoh kempen yang bermula pada 19 Mei genap seminggu, cabaran terbesar DAP untuk mengekalkan kerusi ini mula kelihatan jelas.
Peratusan keluar mengundi yang rendah seperti pilihan raya kecil Bukit Gelugor pada 25 Mei, berulang di Teluk Intan.
Akhirnya, BN kembali merampas kerusi ini apabila majoriti lebih 7,000 undi pada pilihan raya umum lalu kini hanya tinggal sejarah.
DAP mungkin boleh meletakkan beban kekalahan kepada pengundi luar Teluk Intan yang menyokong parti itu tetapi tidak pulang dalam jumlah yang cukup ramai untuk mengundi dan mengekalkan kemenangan mereka.
Namun, mereka ini juga tidak cukup dimotivasikan untuk pulang ke kampung bagi memastikan 'politik baru' yang dibawakan Dyana, menjadi satu kenyataan.- mk
Sokongan pengundi Melayu naik 3% tetapi Cina India jatuh untuk DAP di Teluk Intan...
Dalam penilaian awal pilihan raya kecil yang menyaksikan calon pembangkang parti Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud kalah oleh majoriti tipis 238 undi berbanding Barisan Nasional, Datuk Mah Siew Keong, DAP menemui kebaikan - bahawa sokongan orang Melayu meningkat 3%, daripada 25% pada PRU13 kepada 28% pada pemilihan semalam.
"Enam pusat pengundian majoriti Melayu, DAP mengalami kenaikan kecil dalam menyokong keseluruhan yang terdiri daripada 0.7% kepada 3.4%, suatu tanda yang menggalakkan memandangkan kami tidak menjangkakan sokongan Melayu meningkat," kata ahli strategi parti Dr Ong Kian Ming.
Bagaimanapun, sokongan daripada masyarakat Cina, yang secara tradisinya menyokong DAP, jatuh sebesar 15%, daripada 85% pada pemilihan kebangsaan tahun lepas kepada 70% dalam pilihan raya kecil ini, yang dipanggil Ong sebagai unjuran "yang paling pesimis".
"Ini agak mengejutkan memandangkan sambutan yang positif kempen itu daripada pengundi Cina termasuk ceramah gergasi pada hari terakhir kempen," kata beliau dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.
Sokongan India kepada DAP juga menurun sebanyak 10%, daripada 62% pada GE13 kepada 52% semalam semasa pilihan raya.
Ong berkata walaupun parti itu gagal mengekalkan kerusi separa bandar untuk kali ketiga, beliau percaya ia merintis jalan untuk Dyana Sofya, 27, yang masih baru dalam politik dan berjaya mengurangkan halangan kaum dan jantina.
Ong yakin lebih banyak kaum muda Melayu akan melihat DAP sebagai ruang untuk aktivisme politik dan lebih ramai belia akan menyokong pembangkang Pakatan Rakyat dengan alasan pakatan ini bergerak jauh daripada politik berasaskan kaum.
"Kami melihat kelibat ini dalam kempen Dyana di Teluk Intan. Jumlah kegembiraan dan suasana baik yang dia hasilkan di peringkat kebangsaan terutama di kalangan anak muda Melayu, berani saya katakan, tidak pernah berlaku sebelum ini.
"Oleh kerana pencalonan Dyana Sofya, pelajar UiTM yang bercakap tentang DAP tidak semestinya dalam naga yang negatif lagi!"
Etnik Dyana Sofya dan latar belakang pendidikannya membuat beliau menjadi sasaran serangan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin Umno, selepas dia dinamakan sebagai calon DAP di Teluk Intan.
"Di peringkat tempatan, Dyana Sofya mendapat sambutan menggalakkan daripada kanak-kanak dan juga anak-anak muda ke mana saja dia pergi. Walaupun kebanyakan daripada mereka bukan pengundi, mereka akan mengundi pada masa akan datang dan pemimpin muda seperti Dyana mempunyai kedudukan yang lebih baik untuk memenangi mereka akhirnya," katanya.
Oleh itu cabarannya, kata Ahli Parlimen Serdang, adalah untuk Pakatan Rakyat untuk menyediakan platform yang diperlukan untuk pemimpin muda, terutamanya daripada masyarakat Melayu.
Ia untuk membolehkan mereka, terutamanya pemimpin muda membentangkan idea-idea kreatif dan dasar-dasar yang boleh dipercayai untuk meyakinkan pengundi muda bahawa mereka adalah lebih baik daripada BN untuk menerajui negara di masa hadapan.
"Adakah Pakatan dapat memanfaatkan imejnya sebagai satu pakatan yang lebih baik dan menarik kepada generasi muda, dan oleh itu lebih ramai orang muda akan mengundinya?
"Tidak ada lagi persoalan bahawa Pakatan mempunyai ahli-ahli Parlimen muda, lebih menarik dan dan boleh dipercayai berbanding dengan BN," katanya.
Selepas keputusan semalam, Ong berkata Pakatan perlu juga memahami kesan-kesan isu-isu dan masalah dalam pakatan itu, yang mungkin membahayakan pengundi luar.
"Pertama, adakah mereka akan keluar mengundi pada pilihan raya umum akan datang setinggi PRU13 terutamanya jika pengundi dimatikan oleh masalah yang menjejaskan Pakatan seperti perbezaan pendapat mengenai hudud, masalah dalam pemilihan parti, isu-isu kepimpinan dalam Pakatan di negeri Selangor, isu Allah dan Bible Melayu, hanya untuk menamakan beberapa.
"Tidak ada jaminan bahawa masalah-masalah ini akan meningkat yang membawa kepada pilihan raya umum akan datang dan jika terjadi, ramai pengundi boleh memilih untuk tidak kembali mengundi.
"Kehadiran lebih rendah yang sebahagiannya menyebabkan DAP kehilangan Teluk Intan boleh berlaku di banyak kerusi lain," tegasnya.
Beliau juga berkata keperluan Pakatan untuk membangunkan satu mesej yang meyakinkan ke kawasan lain seperti Teluk Intan yang separa bandar dan lebih cenderung untuk yakin dengan janji-janji pembangunan, "Bukan mesej untuk memerangi rasuah dan untuk menghapuskan politik berasaskan kaum di negara ini."
Ini termasuk tempat di mana Pakatan dan BN dianggap lemah seperti Beruas, Bakri, Raub, Bukit Gantang, Kluang, Kuala Kedah, Bentong, Cameron Highlands, Labis dan Bagan Serai.
"Strategi yang berbeza dan pelengkap kepada apa yang Pakatan lakukan di peringkat kebangsaan boleh jadi diperlukan PR mempertahan dan memenangi kerusi jenis ini," katanya.
Ia juga perlu memastikan pengundi memahami bahawa hak untuk semua, bukan hak istimewa dan bukan hak sesuatu pihak serta menolak politik perkauman.
Ini, katanya, bermakna seorang Melayu boleh mewakili kaum lain dan bukan Melayu juga boleh mewakili orang Melayu.
"Bukan saya atau mana-mana pemimpin DAP mempersalahkan Dyana kerana kekalahan ini. DAP juga tidak menyalahkan mana-mana komuniti untuk tidak menyokong DAP.
Sebaliknya, terima kasih kepada semua mereka yang menyokong kita untuk mempercayai mimpi DAP dalam era baru politik baru tanpa rasuah dalam Malaysia baru bagi setiap warganegara," katanya dalam satu kenyataan ekoran beberapa laporan akhbar bahawa beliau mempersalahkan pencalonan muka baru politik.
"DAP akan terus bersama Dyana Sofya untuk poltik baru. DAP meminta semua rakyat Malaysia, muda dan wanita, untuk menyertai Dyana Sofya dalam DAP untuk mengatakan 'tidak' kepada politik perkauman," kata beliau dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.
Dalam mengatakan bahawa parti itu menerima "keputusan yang benar" daripada pengundi, Ahli Parlimen Bagan berkata DAP akan berusaha untuk mendapatkan semula sokongan setiap rakyat Malaysia dalam tempoh tiga tahun akan datang di waktu untuk pilihan raya umum ke-14, yang perlu dibuat menjelang 2018.
Dalam mengucapkan tahniah Mah untuk kemenangannya, Lim berkata, tugas pertama Presiden Gerakan adalah untuk mendapatkan menteri Umno Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi untuk meminta maaf kerana berkata Cina tidak bersyukur kerana memberi sokongan mereka kepada pembangkang dalam PRU13.
"Mah perlu membuktikan bahawa dia boleh menunaikan janji yang dibuat kepada pengundi Teluk Intan dalam tempoh tiga tahun akan datang dan tidak hanya bergantung kepada 'gula-gula' yang diberikan kepada pengundi dalam tempoh pilihan raya itu nanti," katanya. – tmi
DAP's strategy missteps cost Teluk Intan...
While DAP would point fingers at voter turnout
and BN's election machinery as the reason for their defeat in the Teluk
Intan, the hard truth is this:
DAP lost this by-election, BN did not win it from DAP.
The most obvious contributing factor to the narrow defeat is actually the party's misplaced strategy that simply did not connect with Teluk Intan voters and its demography.
The party's campaign theme and candidate choice, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, was based on the theme of breaking racial barriers and managed to capture the imagination of many around nomination day.
But what transpired after that moment inspired very little confidence from the electorate.
In short, DAP had used an urban constituency strategy to campaign in a semi-urban constituency, a mismatch that eventually cost them to lose Chinese and Indian votes that they had won in the last elections.
This problem has been attributed by some insiders to DAP's nationalisation strategy, where national leaders take the lead during a campaign like this - at the cost of opinions and insights of local leaders who understand the constituency well.
Ears not on ground
Dyana's manifesto, for example, was general and vague and offered no uniqueness to the constituency as well. She and her team had probably overlooked the fact that 65 percent of the electorate here are involved in agriculture-based industry, and issues such as GST, and national policies ring very hollow inside the estates.
A party insider admitted to Malaysiakini that neither the party campaign leaders nor Dyana "understood the demographics of Teluk Intan."
DAP's campaign kicked off amidst much anticipation, but as the days passed, their routine had become repetitive and the party made minimal foray into the Malay heartland, an Umno stronghold, despite fielding a Malay candidate.
They did not capitalise on the possibilities of using more bold strategies to introduce Dyana to the electorate.
Dyana
was akin to a rough diamond, but instead of honing her, leaders ended
up defending her flaws in the campaign period, and at times resorted to
allowing Dyana's superficial attraction take centre stage over her
substance, such as holding a programme just to allow townsfolk take
"selfies" with her.
In short, while fielding Dyana was a brave and progressive decision, DAP failed to materialise that into a 12-day campaign period. The campaign itself was not bold enough - the party hardly moved away from its comfort zone.
And as in the 13th general election, the party this time had confidence due to massive turnouts at the ceramah, including one on Friday night that attracted over 10,000 people. However, as the elections have proven, the bumper crowd does not necessarily translate into votes.
Low turnout at BN events were not an indicator either. It has long been BN's tradition, even before the emergence of Pakatan Rakyat as a force, to campaign in front of small crowds, and to make house-to-house visits.
DAP, on the other hand, only started travelling into the estates in the second week of campaigning, juggling between ceramah and touch and go walkabouts in Teluk Intan's more remote areas.
Shock win for BN?
But touching base would never be enough in areas where the BN footprint has been established long ago. And Dyana's campaign theme and message offers no attraction to these outskirts voters, who at this juncture are probably looking at the candidate's offering rather than the party.
BN, while sounding cautiously optimistic, were not bullish about their chances. The new Teluk Intan MP Mah Siew Keong said he would "accept full responsibility" in the event of a loss on the morning of polling day, while Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak made no plans to come to Teluk Intan when results were announced.
When
it became apparent that Mah had scored a surprise win, Umno leaders
such as Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Ahmad Maslan, and others had to rush to
the tallying centre.
Mah had known about his win unofficially more than an hour earlier, but had to wait for the other leaders to come down to Teluk Intan before accompanying them to the tallying centre.
This also delayed the Election Commission's official declaration of winner by more than an hour.
While some BN component parties will try to claim credit over the win, the most obvious winner in the by-election is Mah, and by extension, a revival for Gerakan.
Defeat, however, will put DAP back to the drawing board in terms of their strategies. It can no longer take the electorate for granted by fielding a political greenhorn in a constituency without understanding the constituency beforehand.
GE13 lessons not yet learned
And this lesson, if learned from, will go a long way in teaching Pakatan Rakyat and DAP where they went wrong in the last general election and where they need to improve by the time for the next general election.
The same Dyana strategy employed here cannot be employed in many semi-urban constituencies in the country.
While attempting to foray into BN strongholds, DAP must not lose sight of seats it has already won. A referendum on racial politics can work with an urban, educated electorate, but obviously would not connect with an electorate whose majority still relies on the mainstream media for information.
To illustrate, just as a hotel receptionist in Teluk Intan presumed the name Malaysiakini to be a political party, DAP has similarly miscalculated the demographic on this constituency and paid the price.- mk
DAP lost this by-election, BN did not win it from DAP.
The most obvious contributing factor to the narrow defeat is actually the party's misplaced strategy that simply did not connect with Teluk Intan voters and its demography.
The party's campaign theme and candidate choice, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, was based on the theme of breaking racial barriers and managed to capture the imagination of many around nomination day.
But what transpired after that moment inspired very little confidence from the electorate.
In short, DAP had used an urban constituency strategy to campaign in a semi-urban constituency, a mismatch that eventually cost them to lose Chinese and Indian votes that they had won in the last elections.
This problem has been attributed by some insiders to DAP's nationalisation strategy, where national leaders take the lead during a campaign like this - at the cost of opinions and insights of local leaders who understand the constituency well.
Ears not on ground
Dyana's manifesto, for example, was general and vague and offered no uniqueness to the constituency as well. She and her team had probably overlooked the fact that 65 percent of the electorate here are involved in agriculture-based industry, and issues such as GST, and national policies ring very hollow inside the estates.
A party insider admitted to Malaysiakini that neither the party campaign leaders nor Dyana "understood the demographics of Teluk Intan."
DAP's campaign kicked off amidst much anticipation, but as the days passed, their routine had become repetitive and the party made minimal foray into the Malay heartland, an Umno stronghold, despite fielding a Malay candidate.
They did not capitalise on the possibilities of using more bold strategies to introduce Dyana to the electorate.
Dyana
was akin to a rough diamond, but instead of honing her, leaders ended
up defending her flaws in the campaign period, and at times resorted to
allowing Dyana's superficial attraction take centre stage over her
substance, such as holding a programme just to allow townsfolk take
"selfies" with her.In short, while fielding Dyana was a brave and progressive decision, DAP failed to materialise that into a 12-day campaign period. The campaign itself was not bold enough - the party hardly moved away from its comfort zone.
And as in the 13th general election, the party this time had confidence due to massive turnouts at the ceramah, including one on Friday night that attracted over 10,000 people. However, as the elections have proven, the bumper crowd does not necessarily translate into votes.
Low turnout at BN events were not an indicator either. It has long been BN's tradition, even before the emergence of Pakatan Rakyat as a force, to campaign in front of small crowds, and to make house-to-house visits.
DAP, on the other hand, only started travelling into the estates in the second week of campaigning, juggling between ceramah and touch and go walkabouts in Teluk Intan's more remote areas.
Shock win for BN?
But touching base would never be enough in areas where the BN footprint has been established long ago. And Dyana's campaign theme and message offers no attraction to these outskirts voters, who at this juncture are probably looking at the candidate's offering rather than the party.
BN, while sounding cautiously optimistic, were not bullish about their chances. The new Teluk Intan MP Mah Siew Keong said he would "accept full responsibility" in the event of a loss on the morning of polling day, while Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak made no plans to come to Teluk Intan when results were announced.
When
it became apparent that Mah had scored a surprise win, Umno leaders
such as Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Ahmad Maslan, and others had to rush to
the tallying centre.Mah had known about his win unofficially more than an hour earlier, but had to wait for the other leaders to come down to Teluk Intan before accompanying them to the tallying centre.
This also delayed the Election Commission's official declaration of winner by more than an hour.
While some BN component parties will try to claim credit over the win, the most obvious winner in the by-election is Mah, and by extension, a revival for Gerakan.
Defeat, however, will put DAP back to the drawing board in terms of their strategies. It can no longer take the electorate for granted by fielding a political greenhorn in a constituency without understanding the constituency beforehand.
GE13 lessons not yet learned
And this lesson, if learned from, will go a long way in teaching Pakatan Rakyat and DAP where they went wrong in the last general election and where they need to improve by the time for the next general election.
The same Dyana strategy employed here cannot be employed in many semi-urban constituencies in the country.While attempting to foray into BN strongholds, DAP must not lose sight of seats it has already won. A referendum on racial politics can work with an urban, educated electorate, but obviously would not connect with an electorate whose majority still relies on the mainstream media for information.
To illustrate, just as a hotel receptionist in Teluk Intan presumed the name Malaysiakini to be a political party, DAP has similarly miscalculated the demographic on this constituency and paid the price.- mk
Slight increase in Malay support for DAP in Teluk Intan, but Chinese, Indian votes plunge...
Despite failing to retain the Teluk Intan seat, DAP has found a “silver lining” in yesterday's results, which saw a small increase in support among the Malay voters, although there was a sharp fall in Chinese and Indian votes, said party strategist Dr Ong Kian Ming.
In
his early assessment of the by-election which saw DAP candidate Dyana
Sofya Mohd Daud losing by a razor thin majority of 238 votes against
Barisan Nasional's Datuk Mah Siew Keong, Ong said the party's support
among Malay voters in Teluk Intan increased from 25% in GE13 to 28%."In six Malay majority polling stations, the DAP experienced small increases in the overall support ranging from 0.7% to 3.4%, an encouraging sign given that we were not expecting the Malay support to increase," he said.
But support from the Chinese community, DAP's traditional vote bank,
fell by 15%, from 85% in last year's national polls to 70% in the
by-election year, which Ong termed as the "most pessimistic" projection.
Meanwhile, support for DAP among Indian voters also decreased by 10%, from 62% in GE13 to 52% in yesterday's by-election.
Ong
(pic, right) said while the the party failed to retain the semi-urban
seat for the third time, he believed new grounds were paved by fielding
the 27-year-old Dyana who is considered a political greenhorn,
especially in terms of breaking down racial and gender barriers.On the upside, Ong expressed confidence that more young Malays would look at DAP as a possible avenue for political activism and that more youths will support Pakatan Rakyat pact in its quest to move away from race-based politics.
"We saw a glimpse of this in Dyana’s campaign in Teluk Intan. The amount of excitement and interest which she generated at the national level especially among young Malays was, dare I say, unprecedented.
"Because of Dyana’s candidacy, UiTM students were talking about the DAP and not necessarily in a negative manner!"
Dyana's ethnicity and educational background (she graduated in law from UiTM) had made her a target of attacks by Umno leaders, after she was named the DAP candidate for Teluk Intan.
"At the local level, Dyana received a tremendous reception from kids and also young people whereever she went. While most of them were not voters, they will be voters in the near future and young leaders such as Dyana are much better positioned to win them over," he said.
As such, the challenge, said the Serdang MP, was for Pakatan to provide the necessary platform for young leaders, especially those from the Malay community, to present creative ideas and credible policies to convince the younger voters that they are better placed than BN to lead the country into the future.
In the aftermath of yesterday's results, Ong said Pakatan will need to also ponder over the effects of issues and problems within the pact, which might turn voters off.
"Firstly, will turnout in the next general election be as high as GE13 especially if voters are turned off by the problems affecting Pakatan such as the disagreement over hudud, problems in party elections, leadership issues within Pakatan in the state of Selangor, the Allah and the Malay bible issue, just to name a few?" he asked.
"There is no guarantee that these problems will not escalate leading up to the next general election and if so, many voters may choose not to come back to vote.
"The lower turnout which partly caused DAP to lose Teluk Intan may be replicated in many other such seats," he warned.
He said the coalition need to develop a convincing message to other constituencies like Teluk Intan which are semi-urban and which are more likely to be convinced by promises of development rather than the pledge to combat corruption and race-based politics.
These include seats where both PR and BN are deemed vulnerable such as Beruas, Bakri, Raub, Bukit Gantang, Kluang, Kuala Kedah, Bentong, Cameron Highlands, Labis and Bagan Serai.
"A different and complementary strategy to what Pakatan has been doing at the national level may be needed in order for PR to defend and win these kinds of seats," he added.
Meanwhile,
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (pic, left) said the party would
have to work hard in the future to convince outstation voters to return
to boost voter turnout.It also has to get voters to understand that development is a right and not a privilege, and to accept a new Malaysia without racial politics.
This, he said, means a scenario where a Malay can represent a non-Malay and vice-versa.
"Neither I nor any DAP leaders had blamed Dyana for our loss. DAP has also not blamed any community for not supporting sufficiently the DAP.
Instead DAP thanks all those who supported us for believing in DAP’s dream of a new era of new politics without corruption in a new Malaysia for every citizen," he said in responding to some news report that he had blamed the political newbie's candidature for its narrow defeat.
"DAP shall continue to stick with Dyana Sofya for a new Malaysia. DAP urges all Malaysians, young and female, to join Dyana Sofya in the DAP to say 'No' to racial politics," Lim said in a statement today.
The Penang chief minister said his party accepted the "true verdict" of the electorate, adding that DAP will work to regain the support of every Malaysian in time for the 14th general election, which has to be called by 2018.
In congratulating Mah, Lim said the Gerakan president's first task is to get Umno minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to apologise for calling the Chinese ungrateful for throwing their support behind the opposition in last year's polls.
"Mah will have to prove that he can deliver on his promises made to Teluk Intan voters during the next three years and not just depend on 'goodies' given to the voters during the election period," he said. – June 1, 2014. - tmi
Guan Eng: Dyana not blamed for loss...
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has clarified
that he does not blame its Teluk Intan by-election candidate Dyana Sofya
Mohd Daud for the party’s narrow defeat yesterday.
On the contrary, the says he has no regrets fielding her and expressed shock over ‘false reporting’ attributing him making statements to the contrary.
In a statement today, he said reporters had asked him for the causes of DAP’s defeat, and whether Dyana’s race had been a factor.
Lim said he responded the question in three parts, the first two of which was the low-voter turnout, and voters being intimidated by development politics and political violence.
The third was, “perhaps because Dyana is new, a woman, young and the first Malay parliamentary candidate for Teluk Intan from the DAP, she is not fully accepted by all three races.”
Nevertheless, he said DAP will continue to field Dyana and others like her in the party’s effort to end racial politics, while also working to win back support ahead of the next general election.
“Neither I nor any DAP leaders blame Dyana for our loss,” he clarified, adding that. DAP did not blame any community for not supporting it sufficiently.
“Instead
DAP thanks all those who supported us for believing in DAP’s dream of a
new era of new politics without corruption in a new Malaysia for every
citizen,” he emphasised.
The Penang chief minister also claimed that Umno is the “real winner” in the Teluk Intan by-election, although it was Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong (right) who won and is promised a ministerial position.
He said Mah’s first test whether he is an “Umno minister” will be to get Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to apologise for calling Chinese Malaysians who vote for DAP ‘ingrates’.
“Even though having an Umno minister will mean more development projects, these projects will benefit Umno cronies more than the rakyat.
“Mah will have to prove that he can deliver on his promises made to Teluk Intan voters during the next three years and not just depend on ‘goodies’ given to the voters during the election period,” he said.
‘Seeds planted for a new M’sia'
Meanwhile, DAP Perak chief Nga Kor Ming attributed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s promise to make Mah a minister as clear factor in his win.
“Najib dangled the carrot in front of the Teluk Intan voters two days before polling day promising Mah a cabinet post should Gerakan recapture the seat.
“The
minister trump card coupled with promises of development and millions
of ringgit in allocations, managed to swing the votes,” he said in a
statement today.
In addition, Nga (left) said the party suffered a ‘massive blow’ at the Batu 12 village, where MCA and Gerakan was able to resolve local issues resulting in a vote swing of 620 - from a DAP victory by a margin of 550 votes in the last election, to a defeat by 70 votes.
“Despite the defeat, we planted the seeds for a new Malaysia. We did not fail. We have yet to succeed. This is the beginning of something big that is about to happen. Malaysia 2.0 is in the making.
“The results of Teluk Intan by election show that we have managed to break the voting trend across racial lines though we failed to achieve our ultimate aim, to win the by-election,” he said.
The Teluk Intan by-election ended yesterday, with Mah defeating Dyana by a thin majority of just 238 votes.- mk
On the contrary, the says he has no regrets fielding her and expressed shock over ‘false reporting’ attributing him making statements to the contrary.
In a statement today, he said reporters had asked him for the causes of DAP’s defeat, and whether Dyana’s race had been a factor.
Lim said he responded the question in three parts, the first two of which was the low-voter turnout, and voters being intimidated by development politics and political violence.
The third was, “perhaps because Dyana is new, a woman, young and the first Malay parliamentary candidate for Teluk Intan from the DAP, she is not fully accepted by all three races.”
Nevertheless, he said DAP will continue to field Dyana and others like her in the party’s effort to end racial politics, while also working to win back support ahead of the next general election.
“Neither I nor any DAP leaders blame Dyana for our loss,” he clarified, adding that. DAP did not blame any community for not supporting it sufficiently.
“Instead
DAP thanks all those who supported us for believing in DAP’s dream of a
new era of new politics without corruption in a new Malaysia for every
citizen,” he emphasised.The Penang chief minister also claimed that Umno is the “real winner” in the Teluk Intan by-election, although it was Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong (right) who won and is promised a ministerial position.
He said Mah’s first test whether he is an “Umno minister” will be to get Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to apologise for calling Chinese Malaysians who vote for DAP ‘ingrates’.
“Even though having an Umno minister will mean more development projects, these projects will benefit Umno cronies more than the rakyat.
“Mah will have to prove that he can deliver on his promises made to Teluk Intan voters during the next three years and not just depend on ‘goodies’ given to the voters during the election period,” he said.
‘Seeds planted for a new M’sia'
Meanwhile, DAP Perak chief Nga Kor Ming attributed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s promise to make Mah a minister as clear factor in his win.
“Najib dangled the carrot in front of the Teluk Intan voters two days before polling day promising Mah a cabinet post should Gerakan recapture the seat.
“The
minister trump card coupled with promises of development and millions
of ringgit in allocations, managed to swing the votes,” he said in a
statement today.In addition, Nga (left) said the party suffered a ‘massive blow’ at the Batu 12 village, where MCA and Gerakan was able to resolve local issues resulting in a vote swing of 620 - from a DAP victory by a margin of 550 votes in the last election, to a defeat by 70 votes.
“Despite the defeat, we planted the seeds for a new Malaysia. We did not fail. We have yet to succeed. This is the beginning of something big that is about to happen. Malaysia 2.0 is in the making.
“The results of Teluk Intan by election show that we have managed to break the voting trend across racial lines though we failed to achieve our ultimate aim, to win the by-election,” he said.
The Teluk Intan by-election ended yesterday, with Mah defeating Dyana by a thin majority of just 238 votes.- mk
Beruntunglah warga Teluk Intan,, tak lama lagi akan ada sebuah universiti... malah Menara Condong akan dijadikan warisan dunia... pandai pengundi Teluk Intan,, kalau Dap menang pun,, GST tetap terlaksana...dan sebagaimana yang dijanjikan dalam manifestonya, BN hanya akan ditunaikan jika BN menang... jadi sekarang BN dan menang... jangan kena kencing dah la...
cheers.
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