KUALA LUMPUR — Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday (Sept 3) dismissed Mr Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s plan to form a youth-based party, saying that it would not be a success.

The former Bersatu chairman said in Putrajaya the youth party will find it hard to win the votes from the older generation, adding that his newly formed party, Pejuang, will end up the kingmaker in an election.

“I do not know why he wants to form a party. I don’t think it will be a success. Youth votes are not enough to win.

“In each constituency, there will be old people, but this is a free country. If he feels he needs to break away, we do not have problem as long as they are also in the fight to combat corruption.

“Pejuang meanwhile is not attached to any party. In election, we are looking to win in 30 seats and we are in the position to choose which party we can cooperate.

“If the other party can accept our condition, then we can work together,” said Dr Mahathir.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said 18 lawmakers from Sabah and Sarawak are ready to support Pejuang.

They may not be party members but shared Pejuang’s principles, he said.

“We will work with them and we hope on the peninsula as well there will be people who help us.”

After leaving Bersatu, Dr Mahathir formed Pejuang, a party that has the same objectives as Bersatu when the latter was established in 2016.

Mr Syed Saddiq, meanwhile, chose not to be part of Pejuang and decided to create a youth-based party.

A meeting was held on Aug 24 between Mr Syed Saddiq and 30 young Malaysians from various background on forming the party. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT