YOURSAY ‘Fielding Dyana is still a good strategy, despite the result.’

DAP's strategy missteps cost Teluk Intan

CQ Muar: Obviously, the elderly voters of Teluk Intan were not receptive to being represented by a young Malay woman, but rather preferred a man-about-town, who is a local figure; plus the lackadaisical attitude of young outstation voters, who took things for granted.

Other factors are those issues relating to hudud, internal strifes and party squabbles, which must be quickly addressed and halted.

The next GE is around three years from now, but by then the senior voters will probably see a dip in their number, while young voters an increase theirs.

Therefore, it is of paramount importance that DAP and Pakatan Rakyat need to penetrate the heartlands of the Malays, and continue to convince urban voters simultaneously.

AA: I am not a supporter of any of the political parties, but I did hope for Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud to be elected as her election would be a clear victory against racial politics.

Nevertheless, there is no need for DAP to feel gloomy in the aftermath of this by-election. A majority of the Chinese voters (more than 50 percent) voted for Dyana. There is also a slight increase in the percentage of Malay votes for her.

Although this may not translate into a victory for the young politician, it is a sign that the dismantling of race-based politics practised by BN has just begun.

Apache: DAP should compile all the promises made by BN during this election and track them one by one.

Publish this tracking yearly to show the voters these are empty promises, for even Mah himself said he is not responsible for those promises made by other component parties.

To start with, track the alleged Indian Progressive Front’s (IPF) promises to give land to the poor Indians , build a super highway across Teluk Intan, build schools, provide Internet access and carry out major developments in the constituency to benefit the residents there.    

Survivor: Ram Anand, based on the 238 votes, you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. Fielding Dyana is still a good strategy despite the results.

Without the Umno racial approach and character assassination, putting young, progressive Malay candidates to replace the oldie Malays is still the best answer for the new Malaysia.

Anonymous #74150739: This Ram Anand’s analysis is a rather precise initial assessment of the situation that saw a huge swing to BN.

As I have said elsewhere, Dyana should not be handled with kids gloves but allowed to make mistakes along the way. DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, including the central leaders, were too protective, leaving the "local" leaders no substantive role in the campaign.

I believe grassroots support was lacking despite it being a parliamentary seat. Ordinary people, including local members, are not discerning enough to recognise/understand the difference between state politics and federal politics.

The demise of the incumbent MP should have been fully anticipated. However, DAP seemed ill-prepared for the inevitable by not having readied the ground for a by-election and candidate. Did the long-term planners fail DAP?

Anonymous_1395655275: It is all right to lose a seat to score a political point. DAP is a multiracial party. DAP cannot forever depend on non-Malay voters if it sees itself as a national party.

If blame needs to be accorded, they are the "outstation voters" who failed to exercise their right to vote.

Boonpou: Ram Anand, your analysis is outright wrong. We should applaud DAP for fielding a Malay, let alone a newbie and a woman.

If there is any chance the opposition parties (and I don't care about PAS, since it shall forever be an Islamic party) is that both DAP and PKR need to transcend racial politics.

Putting forward Dyana is a bold and important first step. She might have lost by a mere 238 votes (not discounting the mishaps and uneven playing field), and this should be taken as a sure sign that DAP is doing the right thing.

Capitalise on the experience of Teluk Intan as a bold step in transcending racial politics. It is the only way to defeat Umno.

Awakened: Ram Anand is right to a certain extent that strategically, DAP may have erred in thinking that the electorate in Teluk Intan are like the urban, young and educated lots who care more for rule of law, equality, corruption-free values and who will choose the party, rather than the candidate itself.

This by-election was unlike the GE13, where the average turnout of more than 80 percent was unprecedented due to the charged-up atmosphere that there is a high chance of changing the government.

Many citizens who worked overseas came back just to cast their votes. Before GE13, the turnout rate was between 65 and 75 percent on the average. Pakatan and DAP should have anticipated that.

There was no such euphoria in this by-election and the outstation voters did not see the need for them to come back to vote as winning or losing would not change anything as far as government policies are concerned.

KB Menon: I presume DAP has, in the counting process, properly verified the high number of spoilt votes in relation to the very slim margin of victory by BN. But is marking an ‘X’ in the appropriate place that difficult for some Teluk Intan voters?

Anyway, good job by first-timer Dyana Sofya. There is no shame in this loss as the margin of victory by BN and its mighty election machinery is so very slim. With a higher voter turnout the result could have been different.

DAP must continue to evolve from the image of a Chinese-based party to that of a truly multiracial one with more young, intelligent Malays brought into the fold and groomed as future election candidates.

Casey: I wouldn't call it a "strategy of missteps". The fight to liberate the country, from all forms of oppression and racial and religious bigotry, is not going to be smooth sailing or without a heavy price to be incurred. But in the end, the people's will is what achieves victory.

I tend to agree with DAP's national strategy - of not resorting to a safe approach and playing to dogmatic politics along the racial and religious divide.

Although there were obvious risks in fielding an unpolished gem in Dyana against the might of an entrenched power fighting to hang on to Putrajaya and with it, the money printing machines.

Losing battles doesn't mean you've lost the war. Indeed, Pakatan and DAP should continue to shun racial politics and uncover young freedom fighters - regardless of racial and religious background - and in huge numbers.

Defeat a blessing in disguise for Pakatan

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