Looking forward, Muda chief distances himself from old mentor Dr M

 

INTERVIEW | Once regarded as one of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s many blue-eyed boys, it appears that Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is now reluctant to look back on his mentor-protege relationship with the former premier.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini on Tuesday, Syed Saddiq, who was seen as Mahathir’s near-constant sidekick, divulged that he would much rather move forward to focus on Muda’s “new politics” agenda than reminiscing on the past.

When asked if he was ashamed to have been the nonagenarian’s loyalist and the close camaraderie the pair once shared, Syed Saddiq sidestepped the question.

He, instead, said that he does not see eye to eye with the old ways of politics, which Mahathir still seems to be practising in the present.

“I am a Malaysian first. And I believe the strength of our beloved country lies in our diversity and institutions, not on personalities, not on a single race or religion.

“Many focus on looking back so much that they lose sight of how to take Malaysia forward and that’s why I said that there are two crucial differentiating factors between ‘old politics’ and ‘new politics’.

“The first is embracing diversity instead of mono-ethnicity. And the second is relying on the building of strong democratic institutions instead of focusing on personalities,” he said.

This came after Mahathir’s latest salvo against the non-Malays, saying that it was against the Federal Constitution to promote a multiracial Malaysia.

Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman

Previously, the two-time prime minister had also accused the non-Malays, without furnishing evidence, of wanting to “change the ownership and name” of Malaysia.

In response, Syed Saddiq asked Mahathir if the latter had forgotten that one of the nine strategic challenges outlined in Vision 2020 - which was launched in 1991 during his first tenure as the prime minister - was “Bangsa Malaysia” (a Malaysian nation).

“I would like to remind Tun that one of the crucial pillars is to build ‘Bangsa Malaysia’, regardless of race, religion, and social economic class.

“I was from that generation and I remember it. I want to continue to fight for ‘Bangsa Malaysia’.”

Although it was not seen as an apparent attempt at distancing himself from his former mentor, Syed Saddiq admitted that the disassociation began after the Sheraton Move in 2020.

Both were expelled from Bersatu following the change in government, leading Mahathir to form another Malay-based party, Pejuang.

However, instead of joining his mentor, Syed Saddiq chose to set up Muda - a youth-led multiracial party, against Mahathir’s wishes.

“And above and beyond, I entered elections together with a highly multiracial moderate coalition (Pakatan Harapan) with a clear policy framework for reforms and until today, defending the platform of diversity and moderation,” said the former youth and sports minister.

When Muda was founded, Mahathir criticised it, expressing doubts that the multiracial all-youth party would be successful.

He later clarified that he was referring to the new party’s survivability in elections, as it would only divide the support of voters, especially among Malays.

Following Syed Saddiq’s announcement last week that Muda will be contesting on its own in all six states in the upcoming state elections, Mahathir once again dampened the fledgling party’s spirit.

He pointed out there was no reason for the party to contest if it would not be part of the governing administration.

Syed Saddiq and other Muda leaders have been actively countering Mahathir’s racial rhetoric on social media.

As for its chances in the state elections, the Muda president told Malaysiakini that the party will be starting small on what he described as a decades-long journey to gain support. - Mkini