Shahrir tells Dyana to understand DAP’s secular stance

(The Rakyat Post) – DAP candidate for the Teluk Intan parliamentary constituency Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud has been asked to fully understand the DAP’s fight in defending the policy of secularism.

In making the call, Johor Baru Umno division chief Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said he was shocked when Dyana Sofya was reported to have declared that, if elected, she would oppose the hudud bills that PAS had proposed to table in Parliament.

The 27-year-old candidate said she was opposed to hudud law in accordance with the party line, or the DAP’s fight.

“Secularism is a concept whereby the government or any other entity exists in separation from religion or religious belief. How did the party come to have such a party line when it is secular?” asked Shahrir at a media conference at the Johor Baru Umno division office today.

He said the DAP, as a party which defended secularism, must allow its Muslim leaders and representatives to make their own stand as Muslims.

While respecting Dyana Sofya’s decision to join the DAP, Umno veteran Shahrir said it was not something weird even though she was brought up in a family which supported the Umno cause.

“The situation is now very open and there should be no surprise when family members, such as mine, hold different political views.

“My sister was influenced by socialism when studying in the United Kingdom in the 60′s.

“When studying in Universiti Malaya, I was influenced by Umno which was fighting for the New Economic Policy, while my brother (Khalid — Pas Member of Parliament for Shah Alam) supported PAS after being influenced by the Islamic Revolution while studying in the UK.”

Shahrir also expressed confidence that BN candidate Datuk Mah Siew Keong was capable of wresting the Teluk Intan seat from the Opposition.

“Mah still has a chance of winning because he has continued to provide good service to the people there despite losing in 2013.

“Can the DAP provide such service?”