No News Is Bad News
Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman … heading down the rocky political road like Anwar Ibrahim?
Syed Saddiq the ‘new Anwar and PKR’?
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14, 2023: The jailing, whipping and fining of Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman has triggered a nationwide debate on his political future.
On Thursday (Nov 9), immediately after the sentencing, Syed Saddiq resigned as Malaysia United Democratic Alliance (Muda) president, a party he founded, on principles.
Syed Saddiq is still free as he is appealing against his conviction. If he fails in his appeals, he would have to serve seven years in prison, whipped twice and pay a RM10 million fine.
The debate on social media includes comparing Syed Saddiq’s political fortune/misfortune to that of Anwar who spent some 20 years to clear his name and become the 10th prime minister.
This is one such post shared in social media:
There was also one message shared in social media that Syed Saddiq is the new “Anwar and PKR” while Anwar is now “Barisan Nasional-Umno”.
Whatever, it is all speculations, and one too early. The political fever will rise when he is jailed and whipped. Also, how is he going to settle his RM10 million fine?
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a Singapore Straits Times report on Syed Saddiq and a Malay Mail report on his resignation as Muda president:
Rising star to disgraced politician: 6 things to know about Malaysian MP Syed Saddiq
Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman is the poster boy for the voice of the young generation in Malaysia. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Journalist
UPDATED
NOVEMBER 10, 2023 AT 10:58 PM
Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman was sentenced to seven years’ jail and two strokes of the cane, and fined RM10 million (S$2.9 million) on Thursday after he was found guilty on all charges of abetting in criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of funds and money laundering.
Following the sentencing, the 30-year-old resigned as president of his own party, the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda), but remains as an MP while appealing his case.
Syed Saddiq has vowed to clear his name.
Here are six things to know about the poster boy for the voice of the young generation in Malaysia, whose name has managed to be on everyone’s lips - from generations X, Y to Z.
Here are six things to know about the poster boy for the voice of the young generation in Malaysia, whose name has managed to be on everyone’s lips - from generations X, Y to Z.
1. Youngest minister in Malaysia’s political history
At age 23, Syed Saddiq was made the Youth Chief of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia when Tun Mahathir Mohamad formed the party in 2016.
In 2018, Syed Saddiq was sworn in as the 18th Youth and Sports Minister under the then Pakatan Harapan government headed by Dr Mahathir.
The appointment made him the youngest Cabinet member in Malaysia at age 25.
2. Cat lover
Syed Saddiq became the first candidate in his party to declare his assets amounting to about RM2.81 million as at Sept 30, 2022, including the value of his two pet cats.
His two cats were gifts from his brother and a friend in 2018.
Pseudo-celebrities in their own right, Meow Meow and Toby even have their own Instagram account @yangberbulu with over 12,000 followers.
A recent addition was made to his feline family, Wolfie, after the death of Toby in early 2023.
3. Champion debater
Do not be fooled by Syed Saddiq’s boyish charm, as his oratorical skills packed a punch whenever he was debating in Malaysia’s Parliament.
Although, he has never scored an A for English while in school, he went on to win the title of Asia’s Best Speaker in the Asian British Parliamentary Debating Championship. Not once or twice, but three times – in three consecutive years from 2012.
https://www.tiktok.com/@syedsaddiq?referer_url=www.straitstimes.com%2Fasia%2Fse-asia%2Frising-star-to-disgraced-politician-6-things-to-know-about-malaysian-mp-syed-saddiq&refer=embed&embed_source=121355059%2C121351166%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_masking&referer_video_id=7278646992174124290
4. Turned down Oxford
As a law graduate of the International Islamic University Malaysia, Syed Saddiq turned down two full scholarships in 2017 and 2018 to study at his dream university, Oxford.
The main reason cited was he had to uphold his responsibilities as an elected MP to his constituents and country.
In 2021, he took part in a post-graduate senior fellowship programme at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy after accepting a scholarship from the National University of Singapore.
Describing the six-week experience as “priceless”, he said: “I’ve learnt things I wouldn’t have elsewhere”.
5. Star appeal on social media
As a young politician, Syed Saddiq is not encumbered by limitations experienced by politicians of yesteryears by leveraging on social media.
As one of the most-followed politicians in Malaysia – he has almost two million followers on Instagram and 1.2 million followers on TikTok – his every move and opinion is being watched and tracked.
Besides gracing covers of magazines, the latest being Prestige Malaysia, whose cover story is ironically titled The future is bright with Abe Lim and Syed Saddiq, his love life has also been a constant source of scrutiny for one of the most eligible bachelors in Malaysia.
But he also had a taste of the dark side of social media when in 2016, some netizens criticised him for being a “kaki clubbing” (avid clubber) and posted a picture of him at a disco.
Then in 2018, Malaysians were outraged by a photo posted on social media showing him shirtless in a bathtub undergoing cold water therapy.
6. Falling out with his mentor
In July 2023, Syed Saddiq criticised Dr Mahathir, 98, who said that promoting Malaysia as a multiracial country is against the Federal Constitution.
The dicey issue of race politics in Malaysia managed to drive a wedge between the mentor and mentee.
Once a revered figure in his life, Syed Saddiq has since distanced himself from the political bulwark.
Syed Saddiq steps down as Muda president, remains Muar MP
Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) president Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman reacts during the Muda special press conference announcing his decision to step down as party president in Petaling Jaya November 9, 2023. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
By Anis Zalani
Thursday, 09 Nov 2023 5:56 PM MYT
PETALING JAYA, Nov 9 — Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman announced today that he has decided to step down as Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) president following his conviction for corruption charges this morning.
He said, however, that he will still hold the position of Muar member of Parliament.
“I no longer deserve the role of party president and will immediately vacate the position while I clear my name in court,” he told reporters during a press conference at Muda headquarters here, today.
Muda deputy chairman Amira Aisya Abd Aziz will now hold the position of the party’s acting president as Syed Saddiq’s appeal against his conviction gets underway.
When asked if he will still serve as the Muar MP, he answered in the affirmative.
“Yes, as the lawyers have briefed, there’s a stay of execution and stay of conviction,” he said.
Stay of execution refers to a direction by a court to stop some form of enforcement action while stay of conviction refers to a legal order that temporarily halts the enforcement of a criminal conviction or sentence pending the outcome of an appeal.
Syed Saddiq said staying on as the party’s president would defeat the purpose of Muda as a political party as it was established on the basis of bringing ‘new politics’ to the country and that the position of Muda’s president must be transparent and honest.
As a result of his conviction for corruption over the misappropriation of funds belonging to Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada) earlier today, he said he no longer deserves the role.
Despite ceasing to be party president, he said that he will continue to support the party and collaborate with its members.
“Amira Aisyah and the leadership will decide on the next steps. Muda is bigger than Syed Saddiq, and the presidency is an important role with a high threshold.
“Therefore, I appeal to clear my name in court, not just for the public but also for Muda members,” he said.
Amira Aisya said the decision by the High Court would not weaken Muda but instead sends a clear signal that its struggle must continue.
She further said that Syed Saddiq’s struggle from the moment he entered politics, and that of the party are “one and the same”.
“We will continue our struggle to fight for all relevant institutions of the country, the policies that are close to the hearts of the people and clean up politics.
“We will prevail even as Syed Saddiq vacates his role as party president,” she said during the press conference today.
Syed Saddiq was today found guilty of corruption over the misappropriation of funds belonging to Armada — the Youth wing of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) — where he had served as its chief three years ago.
High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt on the charges against Syed Saddiq. - MalayMail
No comments:
Post a Comment