Bersatu Youth chief: Whatever Syed Saddiq wants to start, we can offer better

Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal has welcomed his predecessor’s plans for a new multiracial youth-based political platform but opined that it is a “redundant” move.

Contacted by Malaysiakini, he contended that Bersatu and its young wing were far better avenues to empower the youth to participate in politics.

For one, Wan Fayhsal reasoned that the four-year-old party did not have much political “baggage” and already comprised many young members.

“Bersatu Youth is a dynamic youth wing, of which Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman himself was the leader. We have all the room to thrive and freedom to chart our own path.

“Bersatu’s membership also consists mostly of youth. We are relatively a party of the young where youth have a real voice which has weight,” he said.

Not only did Bersatu have a clear ideology, but he also pointed to how youth wing members could naturally progress to the party’s main section as they grew older.

“To have a new political party, especially one dedicated only to youth, is quite a redundant move in an already crowded space.

“Furthermore, what will happen to the members later when they are no longer youth?

“By contrast, those who 'graduate' from Bersatu Youth can advance to the main section of the party. There is a predictable progression path. So, our youth can focus on an agenda that truly matters on a much longer-term basis,” he said.

Wan Fayhsal, a former aide to Syed Saddiq, speculated that the latter’s new multiracial platform would seek to “play down” the role of race and religion in Malaysian politics.

He thus questioned if it would be able to appeal to youth outside of urban areas.

“Whatever the new party wants to offer, we can match or offer better,” he said.

Founded as an alternative to Malay rights party Umno before GE14, Bersatu is now considering starting a new chapter to allow non-Malay and non-Bumiputera members to hold leadership positions.

Political analysts previously predicted that Syed Saddiq’s new platform had the potential to galvanise new voters and steer Malaysia away from racial, elitist politics.

However, signs of an impending snap election mean it will have little time to build support and translate that support to votes.

Syed Saddiq has yet to announce concrete plans for his next move but is expected to do so in the coming weeks. - Mkini