Is Syed Saddiq really a principled person?

If the latest antics of Muda founder and chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman are to be believed, he is a highly principled person who can’t stand to see the corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dropped.

Is he really that worried about corruption in Malaysia that he wants to step down and take his and his party’s sole seat out of the government bench to deny the government a two-thirds majority in Parliament when it comes to issues of importance?

Or is that an opportunistic political stunt to show that he has the power of one in an unfortunate confluence of events which saw the unity government hang on a thread to hold a two-thirds majority?

Now Syed Saddiq (above) has snipped that thread very publicly, which may be of little consequence in the overall scheme of things since he has pledged to support legitimate reforms whatever they may be.

One must remember that in 2019 the legislation for lowering the voting age to 18 was passed by all 211 MPs present in Parliament, showing that if a reform has the support of all parties, a two-thirds majority can still be obtained.

But look at the blaze of publicity his latest stunt has brought Syed Saddiq, all that attention, especially since the Pulai parliamentary seat went to the unity government in the by-election over the weekend.

If Perikatan Nasional had taken that seat, Syed Saddiq’s power of one would have been nixed.

The crafty politician that he is, he has taken the opportunity well.

At this stage, most Malaysians are likely disgusted with Zahid’s discharge not amounting to an acquittal but the question that is on many minds is - how sincere is Syed Saddiq about opposing this move based on principle?

DPM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

If principles are what he cares about most, then he should ask how he became an MP in the first place - through a pact with Pakatan Harapan whereby they did not field a candidate against him but supported him instead. He was the only Muda candidate who won a parliamentary seat.

Under the circumstances then, the principled man that he claims to be, Syed Saddiq should now vacate his seat and seek a fresh mandate from the people who voted for him on the basis that he would support Harapan.

His reply to this was rather inadequate - taking the stance “why should I quit as MP when others have betrayed voters?” Has he not betrayed voters too by his latest stance, taking his one-MP party out of the government bench and making a statement?

Here’s a reminder about that from DAP supremo Anthony Loke: “But let me remind them (Muda and Syed Saddiq) that Syed Saddiq did not win Muar on his own merit.

“He won because there was an electoral understanding with Harapan. We did not put our candidate there, and DAP lent our support to him, we campaigned for him.”

DAP sec-gen Anthony Loke

This was Syed Saddiq’s reply in response to critics during a social media livestream on Sunday.

“What platform did we (Muda and Harapan) campaign on? Before GE15, we vowed not to drop corruption (cases), to fight corruption, and to bring reforms. But the difference between what was promised before the elections and after is astronomical.”

That’s a reply that resonates with the feelings of many Malaysians but if one chooses to leave the bloc which supported him during the previous elections, as a principled man, he should resign his position as MP and seek a new mandate.

Otherwise, one cannot be blamed for thinking that he is making the most political capital out of a sticky situation for Harapan.

In an article in September 2020 called ‘Sizing up Syed Saddiq’, when he formed Muda with others I said this about him: “With his boyish good looks, eloquence, ability to think on his feet, and his savvy media presence and positioning, Syed Saddiq’s proposal to form a party for youth and youthful aspirations has fired the imagination of many justifiably tired of the old ones.

“But is it genuine and doable or is it another one of his moves to focus the spotlight on himself and to become at least a kingmaker in this current volatile political environment where no single party can obtain a majority?”

‘Great respect’ for Dr M

That article raised issues about Syed Saddiq, including RM250,000 in cash found in his house. It also questioned why he wanted to form a multi-racial party for youth after the Sheraton Move which ousted Dr Mahathir Mohamad as PM in 2020 and along with that Syed Saddiq’s position as sports and youth minister.

Syed Saddiq said at the time: “I have great respect for (Mahathir). As someone young, with hope and highly idealistic, I firmly believe that diversity in Malaysia is our strength. While he talks about splitting the Malay votes, we (on the other hand) have to unite all Malaysians."

Ex-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Syed Saddiq

The question that I posed was this: “If that was how he felt, then why did he join Bersatu earlier and Pejuang after that? If Mahathir was still prime minister and he was still youth minister, would he be forming this multi-racial youth party?”

If corruption was what he was concerned about, shouldn’t Syed Saddiq talk about Mahathir’s 22 years in government till 2003 and a further 22 months from May 2018 and examine the level of patronage politics which no doubt contributed to substantial corruption in the system?

And what about the manipulation of the court system at the time which led, among many other things, to the incarceration of the current PM? Instead, he expresses “great respect” for Mahathir.

It is for reasons and incidents like this that I continue to be suspicious of Syed Saddiq. I often wonder if he was planted to undermine Harapan after the Sheraton Move much like his mentor Mahathir was in 2018 who refused to hand over power to Anwar Ibrahim as agreed.

Now that he has cut links with Harapan, Syed Saddiq is free to pursue other links and alliances for GE16 - for himself and his infant party. Is that his plan? Unless Syed Saddiq and Muda team up with others more powerful than them, they are nothing. - Mkini

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P GUNASEGARAM says riding on the coattails of others to gain power is nothing new in politics. Some of them are masters at it.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.