KUALA LUMPUR – Ex-Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman wants his party to join Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) planned nationwide tour to discuss national issues, as this will be for the good of the people, he said today.
He said he would table this suggestion to Muda after its leadership had contacted him for an explanation following the surprise announcement by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that Syed Saddiq would be joining the opposition coalition’s roadshow.
Syed Saddiq, who is Muar MP, said the roadshow “transcends” political parties and personalities.
“The cooperation should be driven by my party. I am not saying this will be a Muda-led protest or tour, but I have to present (my suggestion) to the party to get permission, as I’m still a party man.
“The suggestion is to use a neutral platform in mobilising the people, as this is not about Muda, PN, Syed Saddiq or (Muhyiddin), but about the people’s welfare,” he told a press conference at Parliament today.
Muda’s leadership had earlier distanced the party from the PN roadshow as Syed Saddiq had not referred the matter to its leaders.
Syed Saddiq today said he would discuss with Muda’s leadership in further detail about joining the PN roadshow.
He also urged government backbenchers, such as the vocal PKR lawmaker Hassan Abdul Karim (Pasir Gudang), to join the roadshow because “the people’s concerns are larger than politics”.
Syed Saddiq said there are other lawmakers who were concerned about the same issues affecting the people as he was, and that “using a common platform” – not led by any political party – would be the best option.
Listing his concerns, he accused the government of “normalising” corruption and misuse of power, delays in fulfilling reform promises, and the need to “defend” the people.
On Saturday, Muhyiddin said Syed Saddiq was “pro-PN” even though he was not joining the coalition or its parties. PN’s political roadshow is expected to be held after Aidilfitri celebrations.
Muda, which aligned with Pakatan Harapan for the 15th general election in 2022, pulled its support from the unity government and joined the opposition bench last year, in protest of the discontinuation of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s graft trial.
Syed Saddiq then stepped down from his role as Muda president in November last year after the high court found him guilty of two counts of money laundering, one count of criminal breach of trust and one count of misappropriating Bersatu-linked funds amounting to RM1.12 million, when he was Bersatu Youth chief. – March 11, 2024