MUAR – Muda’s Datin Dian Lee is confident her father Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew shares the same intentions as her when it concerns efforts to improve the country, despite the property tycoon stumping for rivals Pejuang alongside Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Johor.
When asked to comment on her father’s campaign for Pejuang instead of the youth-based party, Dian told The Vibes she remains confident they share the same political objectives albeit using different methods.
“My dad has many alliances and is always willing to help if it is for the good of the country.
In a way, his intentions are similar to mine in that we are trying to help build our country, although our methods may be different.”
Dian, when asked if she expects her father to join Muda’s campaign in Johor, said it could happen.
She said this stems from Muda being a party for all Malaysians and one open to receiving members from all races, religions, ages, and backgrounds.
“This is also why we choose to crowdfund and have a political funding cap because we do not want to end up serving the interests of a few people.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if my dad also comes up to support Muda because I believe we all want a multiracial country that is progressive, transparent, and inclusive.”
Dian said the impending state polls in Johor is a prelude to a general election (GE), and how opposition parties including her own are tirelessly trying to stop the domino effect seen in Sabah, Sarawak, and Melaka.
We must prevent the ‘court cluster’ from returning to power during GE.”
Her response comes after Kim Yew appeared alongside Dr Mahathir on his Ayer Hitam campaign trail, where he had asked members of the Chinese community to vote for Pejuang candidates.
Following speculation behind Kim Yew’s agenda to stump alongside Dr Mahathir, Pejuang clarified with The Vibes that the tycoon was merely offering moral support to a long-time friend.
Kim Yew, co-founder of Country Heights and The Mines Resort developments, when giving a speech at one of the venues on Thursday had praised Dr Mahathir’s leadership in steering the country out of the 1997 Asian economic crisis.
The tycoon also condemned Dr Mahathir’s nemesis, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, saying those who have been convicted should not be allowed to roam around freely.
His daughter Dian’s inclusion into Muda and her subsequent appointment as the party’s central executive committee member also saw its fair share of rebuttals, with quarters accusing Muda of being a proxy to her father’s development empire.
But Muda president and co-founder Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had defended Dian, saying it was unfair to victimise her and how a person cannot choose who their father is. – The Vibes, March 5, 2022.