DAP’s first Malay woman candidate Syerleena Abdul Rashid’s maiden election campaign in Seri Delima has been an eventful one.

The Pakatan Harapan candidate was attacked via a WhatsApp message that questioned her suitability for the seat before the campaign began. Then she was accused of wanting to topple the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and install a Christian government.

Last night, a PH ceramah in Taman Tun Sardon in Seri Delima was disrupted by several individuals and one of her colleagues in the campaign team was threatened by an unknown individual on his way home.

Syerleena said everyone knew that the 14th general election was the dirtiest, with fake news going around on social media and physical threats made in the real world.

“There was an interruption at the ceramah, and then my colleague received threats and violent harassment.

“I am very angry with the low and dirty tactics of political hatred and fear. This kind of political culture is outdated and has no place in our community that loves harmony and peace,” she told a press conference at the Penang DAP headquarters today.

“Because I am a woman candidate, there are some out there trying to test the waters. But I will not tolerate this or be scared off by them. I will make sure nothing happens to my colleagues.”

A police report, she said, has since been made over what happened.

Syerleena’s campaign colleague Muhammad Shahrizul Muiz, who was threatened, described the incident.

“I was on my way home after the ceramah. I was stopped at a traffic light when someone knocked on my (car’s) side window.

“Unsuspecting, I lowered the window. The man then spoke to me in a rough manner. He told me and those with me to ‘jaga-jaga’ (be careful). He then sped off,” he said.

Seri Delima PH campaign manager Adrian Rajamoney said the team would not be intimidated by “these nonsense”.

“Let’s have a clean fight. We don’t need this kind of intimidation.”

Seri Delima, which has 25,232 voters, with 65.56% Chinese, followed by Malays (22.44%) and Indians (11.24%), has been a DAP seat since 2008. Former assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer won the seat by 9,277 votes in the 2013 polls. – May 4, 2018.