Did Malays benefit while political 'protectors' lived in luxury, asks Syed Saddiq

 

Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has rubbished a claim that Malays want a protector because of a neo-feudal or tribal mentality.

Instead, the Muar MP said politicians who claim to protect Malays have done little to actually do so while living in a bubble of luxury.

"When 600,000 M40 households slid to the B40 group, were the Malays protected?

"When Malaysians had to wave white flags because they didn't have enough food during the Covid-19 pandemic, were the Malays protected from hunger and sickness?

"When the people see the lifestyles of Malay political leaders who have fancy watches worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit, houses the size of palaces, and their children's luxury cars, do the Malays get to enjoy such a lavish lifestyle too?" he asked on Facebook.

Syed Saddiq (above, left) was responding to Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who yesterday said Malays need a protector.

Wan Fayhsal has since clarified that he disagrees with this mentality, but said it was a fact nonetheless.

Racial politics

The deputy national unity minister also said that identity politics is still a major factor in Malaysia, and that is the problem with "centre-left" parties such as Muda which downplay this point.

Syed Saddiq said this was the usual tactic of those who want to scare and divide Malaysians away from inclusive parties such as Muda.

He said politicians must move past the racial politics of old which only benefit elites, relatives of politicians, and cronies.

"In Muar, I have never separated aid and support for Malay, Chinese, or Indian families that support Umno, Muda, or PAS.

"Likewise nationally, I believe we must help the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sabahans and Sarawakians, from Perlis or Johor, Kelantan or Pahang - all need help," he said, adding that this is Muda's stance. - Mkini