JAMALIAH Jamaluddin had two choices: distance herself from her family’s Communist Party of Malaysia’s past or embrace her grandmother and focus on making her own mark during the GE14 campaign period.

She chose option 2.

The 29-year-old former Petaling Jaya city councillor has been nominated as the DAP candidate for the Bandar Utama state seat in Selangor and has been attacked in the Barisan Nasional-controlled media because of her grandmother Shamsiah Fakeh’s CPM past.

Shamsiah fought for Malaya’s independence and became part of the underground movement outlawed by the British. Shamsiah and her husband, Ibrahim Mohamad, were eventually sacked for criticising the party.

Jamaliah has refused to be drawn into the controversy surrounding her late grandmother’s past, saying only that Shamsiah was a freedom fighter and advocate for women’s rights.

She said her focus was on what she can do for the people of Selangor and for Malaysians.

“I feel that the people need to know who Jamaliah Jamaluddin is, my background and the community issues I have resolved.”

Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua and DAP national assistant publicity secretary Yeo Bee Yin are among the party’s top leaders who have given Jamaliah their support and stamp of approval.

“She has proven herself to be a hardworking, honest and reliable person… the best thing I found about her is her strong sense of justice and compassion towards people,” said Yeo on her Facebook post.

“You know, in politics, you can learn everything – speaking, writing, debating and politicking, but you just cannot ‘learn’ conviction and to me, strong conviction for the betterment of the people and the country is the most important trait of a politician,” she said of Jamaliah.

Jamaliah will face Petaling Jaya Utara MCA division deputy chairman Ch’ng Soo Chau on May 9. – April 29, 2018.