Muda could trigger youth-quake in PH, says Syed Saddiq

 

Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman says his party would complement the youth wings of Pakatan Harapan member parties.

PETALING JAYA: Muda’s inclusion in Pakatan Harapan could trigger “positive competition” among coalition partners to field more young and talented candidates, according to Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

He dismissed claims that Muda was out to snatch seats belonging to DAP, PKR and Amanah.

Syed Saddiq said his youth-based party only wanted to complement the youth wings of these parties.

“We are hoping all opposition parties will start fielding a lot more young and fresh candidates,” he told FMT, noting that until now only a small number of seats were reserved for youths.

He said Umno had fielded young candidates last November for the Melaka state assembly elections. “So even without us contesting, all parties realise there’s a need to reset the list of candidates instead of fielding the same old warlords who have dominated Malaysia’s political landscape for decades,” he said.

He said it would be easier for the youth wings of other political parties to demand greater recognition for young candidates if Muda was part of PH. They would not stop at young candidates but include those with disruptive ideas, he said.

Syed Saddiq contended that Muda’s inclusion in PH would not rock the boat as believed by some. “I see it as something complementary, where we can compete with one another to ensure young people in all parties get a better place and better say in shaping Malaysian politics.”

Muda faces fierce opposition from PKR to its entry into PH, with some leaders from the Anwar Ibrahim-led party challenging Muda to prove its worth by contesting in difficult seats such as in the east coast.

PKR treasurer-general William Leong said Muda would not add any value to the coalition and warned the grassroots might be demoralised if the party had to make way for Muda’s candidates. - FMT