Syed Saddiq: Don't blame Dr M, traitors misused his name

Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman defended Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying the former prime minister should not be blamed for the political fiasco last week, which led to Pakatan Harapan losing federal power.

In a talk with about 200 members in Alor Setar, Kedah, Syed Saddiq said traitors within Bersatu used Mahathir's (above) name to lure MPs to Sheraton Hotel on Feb 23, where Umno and PAS members were present to form a new alliance to topple the sitting government.

The event, known now as the "Sheraton Move", that Sunday before the Harapan government collapsed was allegedly organised by sacked PKR deputy president Azmin Ali to garner support for Mahathir.

"During a meeting earlier to discuss the issue (of Bersatu in Harapan), Mahathir appealed three times to his party leadership not to let him go against his principles," claimed the former youth and sports minister.

"He insisted on not working with Umno en bloc. That is why he asked for time to salvage the situation," Syed Saddiq recalled.

"He did not know what transpired in Sheraton but his name was constantly used to tell Bersatu MPs to leave Harapan," claimed the Muar MP.

Syed Saddiq named Mahathir's political secretary Zahid Mat Arip as the party's "number one traitor", who kept using his boss' name to lure Bersatu MPs to leave Harapan.

Syed Saddiq said by Monday, Mahathir was forced to resign when his party no longer listened to him.

His resignation was seen as "collapsing the Harapan government but it was not him", said Syed Saddiq.

Syed Saddiq said such a big decision to work or form a government with Umno should have seen the party leaders consulting members about it.

"But has the grassroots been consulted? The decision was made hastily but see what happened now, we lost Johor, (and we might lose) Perak and Malacca too.

"Johor was the jewel state which we seized in the last election, we have lost it now," he lamented.

Syed Saddiq said Bersatu would now have to face the Muafakat alliance, of Umno and PAS, which is a very massive bloc of Malay parties.

"Where are we?" he asked.

Syed Saddiq (above, right) reminded the members about the reason why they joined Bersatu, which was formed to fight kleptocracy and corruption.

He recalled being sacked from his earlier job, while his mother was also threatened because her son was involved in politics.

"What happened now? Bersatu is working with Umno again. Where is our dignity?

"If I knew this would happen, why would I join Bersatu? I may as well have furthered my study in Oxford," he said.

Syed Saddiq said Bersatu opened the door to Umno to enter Putrajaya due to position and power.

He reiterated his stand, saying he will not compromise and would never work with a kleptocrat government with Umno leaders like former premier Najib Abdul Razak and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

With Umno and PAS support, Bersatu president and acting chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as the eighth prime minister on Monday. - Mkini