While it is true that most political parties are into race-based politics, DAP needs to be more multi-racial in order for the party to lead Malaysia into a new era.

Much of our negative perception of Malays have been caused by Malay supremacists such as former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and other extremist groups linked to Umno Baru, who continue to go along the fitnah line of politics.

However many of us realise there is a different ‘brand’ of Malays found in PAS, especially those who are either pious, progressive or in touch with the reality of the modern world, like Nizar Jamaluddin (former menteri besar of Perak), Mat Sabu and even Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

Now, DAP has one candidate who represents the younger generation of Malays, who understand that they have grown up in a multi-racial and multi-religious society where progress can only be achieved by encouraging Malays to work hard and compete with the other races (and the rest of the world), instead of depending on their crutches.

With globalisation, the weaknesses of a certain segment of the Malay community have become even more obvious because of their lack of competitiveness.

Even some of our national leaders lack a good command of the English language, which makes them unable to take questions fielded by international journalists as seen from the recent MH370 fiasco. 

Instead of taking on the world, those who are closely linked to the ruling parties will become economic leeches, but those without political links will be sidelined.

What, as a Chinese, I like to see is for more Malays to look beyond the Umno scope of what it means to be Malay; instead, they should build up their own competitiveness in a global economy.

This is where they should also consider joining political organisations that are multi-racial and multi-religious, rather than the traditionally race-based parties.

Besides Umno, it is unfortunate that the other component parties within BN are still very much race-based, and Malays, for example, cannot join MCA or MIC as members.

However, there is also Gerakan, but unless Gerakan rejuvenates itself beyond former president, Koh Tsu Koon, there is very little hope for Gerakan, being a small party, to introduce change to the BN ruling party which is largely dominated by Umno.

Its young leaders are hardly worth their salt, judging from the way they speak and the things that they say.

I am not a DAP member, but it appears to me that the DAP has its ideals that fit into the vision of most young Malays like Dyana Sofya who, despite being Malay and young, has been picked to represent the party in the coming by-election in a largely Chinese constituency as Teluk Intan, when her opponent is Chinese, and much older.

Since 2008, the DAP has done well by raising a new echelon of young leaders like Hannah Yeoh now the State Assembly speaker for Selangor and Yeoh Bee Yin, another Chinese elected representative in the Selangor state assembly.

But for the DAP to represent the Malaysian fabric of society, it can either continue working within the Pakatan framework or attract more young but principled Malays like Dyana.

With more like her, Umno will have no reason to bark at the DAP for being chauvinistic. Instead of fielding another Chinese candidate for the Teluk Intan by-election, it has picked a Malay and a woman at that, to represent the party.

Former Minister of Women Affairs, Shahrizat Jalil, should be happy that DAP has fielded a woman, and present Deputy Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yasin, known for his ‘Malay first’ stance, should clap his hands at yet another Malay candidate being picked for a parliamentary constituency.

We have seen how Mah Siew Keong in Parliament, but as fellow Malaysians, we are waiting to see how Dyana would perform there.

Democracy is for everyone, irrespective of race or religion and age but it’s of much more importance to the younger generation.

Therefore, as Chinese, if I were to vote in Teluk Intan this coming by-election, I would vote for Dyana, to send another blow to Umno, especially to its affiliates for playing up racial and religious sentiments and using political intimidation against the people. Enough is enough!

STEPHEN NG is a chemist by training. He dealt with printing ink, paint and emulsion polymer for 15 years before becoming a freelance writer.