JOHOR BARU: Entrepreneur-activist Datin Dian Lee says she hopes the public would not look at her merely as the daughter of property tycoon Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew.

       Dian, who recently announced that she has joined the Malaysian United Democratic Party (Muda), said she wants to be seen as her own person with her own passion and strengths.

       “Every time when I wanted to do something, not just now (after joining Muda), but throughout my life, people would bring him into it.

       “But I hope people can see me as my own person, as an independent person.

       “I have been in the business world since after university, I have three children and I am also doing business with my husband.

       “I am a person who is very passionate about issues related to children, including stateless children and malnutrition,” she said when met at a food court in Larkin here yesterday.

       When asked if she would be contesting in the upcoming state election, and in particular in her hometown of Batu Pahat, Dian, who is also a Muda central executive committee member, said she was not privy to the matter.

       “I don’t know. I joined Muda because I want to serve the people. I am just here to do the groundwork.

       “I leave all of that to the party’s leadership to decide. We just wait for Muda’s official announcement,” said the 38-year-old.

       The co-founder of the Clearwater Group said she joined Muda in December last year as she found the party’s principles were in line with her own.