Former M'sian minister Syed Saddiq to register new political party

KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman said he will register a new political party, tentatively named Muda, with Malaysia's Registrar of Societies (RoS) on Thursday (Sept 17).

The ousted Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Youth chief revealed the move to Malaysian business radio channel BFM 89.9’s Breakfast Grille show on Thursday morning.

This comes after Mr Syed Saddiq used the hashtag #MUDAsudahMULA yesterday on Malaysia Day, which is Malay for “Muda has started”, prompting speculation from his supporters.

Since Wednesday, several youth leaders involved in discussions to form the political party have also been tweeting using the same hashtag, outlining their hopes for the new generation of politicians.

“Immediately after our interview, I will be heading to the Registrar of Societies to register Muda as a political party,” the Muar MP said in the radio show.

The former youth and sports minister stressed that Muda is Malaysia’s very first youth-led, multiracial, multireligious political party “to fight for the interests of all Malaysians — young and old, Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan” and “to fight for the interest of middle Malaysia”.

He also told BFM that any attempt to hinder the registration process could result in public backlash.

“I am sure the vast majority of Malaysians are aware and they would know if there are barriers placed in our way, this is a way to stop the progress of a legitimate political entity to silence the voices of young people, like how they did it to Veveonah in Sabah,” Mr Syed Saddiq said, referring to Universiti Malaysia Sabah student Veveonah Mosibin. Ms Veveonah had been wrongfully accused by two deputy ministers of lying about having to climb a tree for better internet coverage in order to take an online examination.

“I think that will create a greater backlash.”

Mr Syed Saddiq reiterated that Muda will not just be a party for young people.

“It is also for old leaders who are young at heart. Muda cannot be a party only for young people.

“It should be opened up for all age categories but the policies which we bring forward will be different... the vast majority of leaders who we field will be young and we no longer want to limit the voice of young people,” he said.

Previously, Mr Syed Saddiq had said that that his new party will change politics and the way it is funded in Malaysia.

He said his time as Bersatu Youth chief taught him that the current practice of rewarding party members with money as well as how political donations are handled must be changed.

The Muar MP also said the money to run the “movement” — as it has yet to be registered as a political party — will come from the members themselves.

But a few weeks later he said his new youth party would welcome donations from any source, but with limits, after rumours emerged on social media that the new party was funded by some “business tycoon”.

He said the funding issue is close to his heart because when he was in the government he had insisted that there should be a Political Funding Act.

He said Muda welcomes donations, but added that there should be a limit. MALAY MAIL