I want her to be like Mukhriz, but she chose to be like Marina, Dyana’s mum tells Dr Mahathir

The mother of Teluk Intan DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud today responded to former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had suggested that she had not done enough to impress on her daughter of Umno’s struggle for the country and the Malay race.

Umno member Yammy Samad said she had tried to raise Dyana like Dr Mahathir’s son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahatir but she ended up like the former prime minister’s strong-willed daughter, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.
"I tried to raise her like Mukhriz, but she ended up like Marina. I give all my children the freedom to chose what is right and wrong. Dyana is old enough to think about this,” she told The Malaysian Insider today.
Commenting on Dyana's candidacy yesterday, Dr Mahathir had said Umno members should impress upon their children about the party’s struggle.
"As parents, Umno members should tell their children about Umno, its history and what it has done (for country and people), otherwise when they grow up, they will do as they please," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Dyana’s family members are staunch Umno supporters and Dr Mahathir said he was disappointed with her for contesting on a DAP ticket.
He said he would not have minded if she had come from a “pro-opposition family as from young, she would have been taught to hate Umno”
Dr Mahathir was previously reported as saying that he was disappointed with Dyana as her family members are staunch Umno supporters.
Yammy, however, said Dyana had a right to decide her own future, even if she chose to pick a husband who is not a Malay.
"I leave her to choose. She is free to choose her own husband, what more a political party.
"If she wants to get married, it's up to her. If she wants to get married to a Malay, Chinese or an Indian. If I force her, and if it ends up in failure, then what is the point?" she said.
She said there was nothing her daughter needed to be afraid of by joining the DAP as it was not a "Chinese-only" party.
Dyana, she added, was born a Muslim and will continue to uphold her religion till the end.
"Why would she go far away from Islam. My daughter was born a Muslim. She will be a Muslim forever. There is no reason why she would leave her faith. In DAP, not everyone is Chinese. All are from different religions," she said.
When asked if her daughter would be championing for the Malays through DAP, Yammy answered, "God willing".
Elaborating on the Malay support for Dyana, Yammy said the people in the area prefer to convey their support quietly through SMS or emails.
"They are quietly supporting through emails and by sending thousands of text messages. I am scared that my phone is going to explode," Yammy added. – May 20, 2014.